Hades Sent : Book One of the Sent Series, page 2
Poor Gabriella is getting stuck with Ireland. I happen to think I should be the one that gets the pity.
“Oh, no worries, Ms. Craven!” Gabriella laughs. “If Ireland needs helps, I am only too pleased to assist her. I can even drop her off, being that she can’t fly yet. Which of course, is not her fault.” She bats her lashes at our teacher.
“Why, Gabriella! That is very thoughtful,” Ms. Craven says before I can even respond.
Yes. Very thoughtful. In fact, mind blowing that she is willing to help me. I would rather fall to Earth by myself thank you very much.
Ms. Craven claps, the sound booming throughout the drop-off. “Good luck, everyone! Remember, one mission closer to what you want. The higher authority wants everyone to succeed! That’s what good angels do!”
If I have to hear that one more time! What good angels do! Again, I can’t help but think they made that motto just for me. I’m not a good angel so I’m not expected to get what I want. But, I am good and true. And I can suppress the demon inside me when I want to. The problem is … sometimes I don’t really want to suppress it. Like now, with Gabriella looking at me. I would love to punch her right in the face.
Gabriella looks at me as if she can read my thoughts. “Ireland, are you ready? We must be going now.”
I force myself to take her hand. “Yes, I’m ready.”
Ms. Craven walks up to us and pushes a device to the top of our heads. It looks like what humans use to check their temperatures. A thermometer? This device programs the missions in our minds. Details. Details. So many details about this young guy flow through my mind. The banks. The robberies that have already taken place. His exact location. Really, they make it simple. A beep sounds marking the end of all information. “You two are good to go.”
“Excellent!” Gabriella beams.
I keep ahold of Gabriella’s hand because I have to. Even though she has her wings, she still gets to go on missions. I think more or less to give her something to do. And since she has the wings, she has to take me to Earth and drop me off even if I don’t like it.
We walk toward the edge of the drop-off and peer down. I take a deep breath. She will be gone in a minute. Then I will be alone again. Gabriella looks behind her as if to say something, but she stops and looks at me. “On the count of three. One … two … three!”
We jump off into the sky, hand in hand. Her wings unfold, stretched clear and white across her shoulders. They fluff and shine in the sun. So beautiful and I am so envious. She sees me staring. “Don’t worry. Your time is coming,” she shouts over the air as we fall through the clouds. Her voice is stating something as “a matter-of-fact” and not in a positive way. She knows something and my guess it’s nothing good.
We glide for a while, feeling the air in our hair and the sense of ever-growing release. To fly would be amazing. I’ve never wanted something more than my wings. The view comes into place now. Green fields, pastures, and farms come into focus. Up ahead is a city, but not the biggest city I’ve ever been to. Then, I see water. A little lake takes in the sun’s warmth. We soar over it and I think Gabriella means to drop me off, safely on the ground. She doesn’t.
“Okay, I will meet you here this afternoon in about three hours. If you are not back, I will meet you tomorrow evening at seven. Call if you need help.” And then, Gabriella drops me. I go soaring down toward the lake. “Oops. Your hand slipped. So sorry about that! See you later,” she calls, flying away from me.
On purpose. Everything she does is on purpose. I’m falling, feet first toward the middle of the lake. Okay. Just great. I do a little scooting in mid-air to change the angle my body is falling, but it doesn’t help anything. Before I know it, my body hits the water with such force it knocks the air right out of me. The water is so cold as I sink further down in the lake, my entire body shivers. It’s murky and mud ridden. I move my arms, remembering my early swimming lessons. My arms and mind are able to make the connection and before long, my head pops out of the water. I’m exactly in the middle of the lake thanks to Gabriella’s precise measurements.
I will figure out a way to get her back one day, I swear it. Suddenly, there’s a faint beeping in my head that warns me my robber is on the move. Sometimes, my assignment works with me to fulfill the mission at hand. Sometimes, it doesn’t. This time, it seems like luck is on my side. The system is giving me a heads up.
The guy is going north, and he’s getting ready to make his next move probably toward his hideout or something. That’s the way these criminals work. At least that’s how I would do it. I bet I could make a good criminal. The demon part of me would help me map out how to get away with things like that. I feel heat behind my eyes at the thought. Hmm … very tempting.
No. Stop it! I will block out these unnecessary and forbidding thoughts. I’m looking for this criminal. I’m not trying to be one. Come on, Ireland! Stay focused.
The beeps continue in my head as it maps out the route the robber is taking—5th street is highlighted in my brain. The map is kind of like a GPS on steroids. I am given exact points, exact timeframes. This guy is a little man on screen. Everywhere he goes, I will follow. But for now, I’ve got to get out of this lake and head toward the city. My best guess is that the city is about ten miles from here.
After about five minutes of swimming, I reach the water’s edge. My clothes are filthy with mud. Are my nails growing again? I just cut them this morning! I don’t even know you, Mother, and yet you cause me so much misery. Oh, the irony. A demon mother causing her child misery. Never would have imagined that.
I need a solution. A good solution and quickly. When Gabriella and I were coming down, I saw a road south of the lake. Best to head there and find some person to help me.
Taking my shoes off, I run toward the road. There’s no time to lose. Even a second could cause me to blow the mission. My lungs expand from the effort. Earth feels so good. The air is crisp and cool. The sun beats down through the endless trees and branches. It’s all so beautiful. Heaven is … not like this … Earth offers its own magnificence. Cool grass under my toes, wind through my hair. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to live here.
A truck rolls past me as I reach the side of the road. It leaves a dusty trail behind, making me cough. The beeping starts again, more urgently than before. My guy is getting closer. He will get to his destination within thirty minutes. This isn’t good. Not good at all. If he gets home, he could have more weapons and certainly more options. In heaven, I am immortal. Earth is a different story. Sure, angels are hard to kill. But it is possible. And if our enemies know what will kill us on Earth, well that’s bad news.
The sound of a car traveling down the road breaks my thoughts. They only need to stop. My touch can do the rest. Best thing to do is pretend I’m hurt. Surely, whoever it is will stop to help. Quickly, I put my shoes on and lie down on the road. My damp clothes stick to me as I stay as still as possible. Breathe in, breathe out. My mission must be finished.
Soon, tire screeching fills the air. A car door slams and feet make their way toward me. There are muddy work boats in my line of vision. One male peers down at me. My slightly open eyes catch his look of concern. He’s shabby looking with soft blue eyes and stubble around his mouth. This is good. He won’t fight me.
He leans in and says, “Ma’am? Hey! Are you okay?”
His rough hand brushes across my forehead and then traces down to my wrist. The male is checking for a pulse. Unfortunately, I won’t have one.
Once he starts to feel my wrist, I grab his hand before he can comprehend what’s happening. He tries to break free from me, shocked that I’m alive.
“What the …?!” he cries.
I let the heat rise in me. My demon blood becomes more pronounced with each second. Mother gave me a lot of ways to cause misery, but mind control isn’t one of them. All I have to do is command that part of myself to take hold. Controlling my mind is the hardest part of it all because as a demon, the male smells good. Good enough to eat. That is the part I find hard to control. I command myself to give it up … he won’t be lunch. I eat only food, food and humans are not on the same menu.
His eyes show me what I need to see. I am glowing. Not the special gold color glow you think of with angels. The demon glow is red. My whole body turns a shade of red as I stare right into those beautiful blue eyes of the male in front of me. He is pure and means me no harm. Pictures of his family flow through me … a male of innocence and kindness.
“What’s your name?” I ask in sort of a hissing tone.
He stares at me for a second, perplexed. “Dylan. Dylan Hall.”
“Very good, Dylan. I need a favor. Do you think you can do something for me?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I like the male named Dylan. He is a simple type of human. Easy to control. Easy to eat.
I smile sweetly. “I need a ride to 5th street and quickly. Think you can do that for me?”
“Are you not hurt, ma’am?” Dylan asks.
“No. I just need a ride and then you will forget all about me. Understand?”
“Yes. It will be as if I never saw you.”
A laugh escapes me but it sounds more evil than I mean for it to be. Embarrassing. “Thank you, Dylan. You will be rewarded soon for your assistance. I’m going to let you go now. Ready? One … two … three.”
His hand falls from me. Dylan looks lost for a moment before catching my eye again. He shakes his head trying to clear it. “You needed a ride to 5th street?”
“Oh yes. If you don’t mind, of course.”
He smiles at me this time. “Get in.”
Chapter Two
Ireland
Dylan drops me off on the corner of 5th and 6th with a small wave before speeding off back through town.
The city streets are busy with people and all different types of stores and shops. One shop window confirms the name of the city. According to my assignment notes, the city of Harrison is the bank capitol of the United States. Hundreds of banks line the streets, housing the top financial advisors in the country. The banks and buildings also house millions in cash. Tourist revenue is high throughout the town due to the terrain and climate. Harrison comes just short of a mini paradise. The shops offer discount vintage pieces, name brand clothes and purses with the costs cut in half or more. This is a shopaholic’s dream.
My guy doesn’t waste time on petty cash. He goes for the real deal. My alarm beeps again, reminding me to move on. He has already hit up numerous banks and shops causing customer complaints and townspeople hardships.
The beeping continues telling me that he is close. I follow his trail, hoping for a quick capture. The system shows me he is just ahead, in an old apartment building above the shop called Angie’s Clothes Rack.
Interesting. He’s either storing something or he lives above a clothes store. How can I be sure he doesn’t know I’m here? I could go all in and try to touch him. Then I will know his full intent, or I can wait him out and see where he goes from here. The problem is, I don’t have a lot of time. It looks better if I complete my mission the first day instead of the second. Let’s see, it’s two-thirty now. That doesn’t leave a lot of time.
This guy can’t possibility know angels’ weaknesses. It’s just too cliché for one thing. He’s a normal human male that I can persuade to stop robbing people. Sure. Yes. No problem.
Decided, I breathe in deep and move toward the apartment. The store is made up nicely on the outside with solid brick walls and a huge sliding glass door. A bird flies by and its shadow makes me look up. On the side of the building is a staircase. It’s a bit shabby. A few broken pieces of wood lie on the bottom step, but otherwise it seems okay.
The system rings even louder in my head, causing lights to appear in front of my eyes. It’s celebrating how close my guy is. Unfortunately, my head feels like it’s in the center of a Fourth of July celebration. Stop! I try to command it inside my head. The noises fade slightly, as if it enjoys taunting me. Sometimes, I feel like this system does things just for that reason. One day, to aggravate me. Another day, it’s there to slow me down and try to make me fail. When I get back, I’m going to ask Faith if she has the same problems with hers as I do.
To stay focused, I place my hand on the staircase railing and tiptoe up, quiet as a mouse. The wood door is ajar and voices from inside seep through the opening toward me.
“No, I understand,” comes the male’s voice within the apartment. Father, I will complete this. Trust me. She will be here within the hour. Yes, I’m certain …”
This is good. Touch him while he’s distracted. Easy peasy. I tiptoe and slide through the open door to touch his back. His information is spot on. Greve Kronos, nineteen years old, black spiked hair, gray eyes, six feet tall with broad shoulders, and his arm muscles bulge when he feels my touch. Okay, that last part was irrelevant. But he’s a lot better looking in person than on the screen and for a split second, it catches me off guard.
Greve swings around, momentarily shocked at seeing me here. As soon as his eyes find me, I let my demon nature take hold. Heat rushes through my eyes, and immediately the red outline appears around me. I can tell he’s taken aback. Maybe he really doesn’t know who or what I am.
Then his information comes through in my mind. Greve Kronos, bank robber, not human, can be spiteful, hurtful, and evil. His intention is to find the angel, Ireland Grace. I shudder, causing my information to stop flowing. He knows me and wants me for god knows what.
He waits until he can see it register on my face and then smiles, grabbing my hand in the process. “Your mind games won’t work on me, Ireland Grace. Luckily for you, though, I’ve been waiting for you to come. As an angel, you sure are slow. I’m a bit disappointed.” Greve tsks at me. “Maybe it’s the demon part of you that you need to bring out more.”
“What are you?” I ask in a mumble. No one has ever known I was coming. No human can withstand my mind control. Have I been set up by the higher authority? By Gabriella? Or is this all by fate and chance?
Greve comes closer to me, his face inches from mine. The scents of bonfires and aftershave fills the air around us. “What I am is irrelevant. You saw my intent. Ireland, I came for you and now you are here.”
“Why? I take it you’re not really a robber, then?”
Greve chuckles at me. “Clever. No, actually not the kind of robber you are familiar with. Banks and money are meaningless. It’s souls I’m after. And pardon me, but the soul of a part angel is simply too good to ignore.” Greve places his hands on my shoulders and sniffs me.
I automatically take a step back in response. He smells me as if I am lunch. Then it hits me … he’s at least part demon. Maybe more so. All I do is look at him more closely to see all the signs. That’s why my mind control won’t work. He’s immune to me. Please, don’t let him be able to control me.
“You wouldn’t want me,” I declare. “After all, I am part demon like you.”
Greve runs his fingers through his hair and sighs. “Part angel is better than none at all. However, I am forbidden to eat you. I swear, the bosses really like to test my self-control. No matter, I was promised your body.”
He moves behind me quicker than my mind can register. My back is to his chest and he wraps his arms around me, grasping as if desperate to eat me now. “And I must say, Ireland, I think I will enjoy your neck first.”
I feel his lips press against my neck, gentle and soft. His scent of fires and aftershave make me dizzy, or maybe it’s his kiss making me lightheaded—I can’t really tell which. And for a spilt second, I don’t care.
Tingles run down my spine from his kisses. He whispers something I can’t quite pick up on and I think I mumbled to him in response. Control! Breathe! You don’t even know who this is and he wants to kill you for Pete’s sake! The heat in my eyes turns cold.
Greve lets me go as quickly as he grabbed me. He waves an accusing finger at me. “You will have to do better than that. Before long, the demon part of you will be all that’s left. You can barely control it. I was hoping for more of a fighter.”
My nostrils flare. I can be a fighter. I am a fighter. “I’m not going with you.”
“How can you leave? You have no wings. You cannot fly. No one cares for you. Make this easy on me and maybe I will … well … not ravish you so quickly after your soul is gone. I have orders to bring you in. You are a demon, if only part, and demons do not belong here, and they certainly do not belong in heaven.”
“Listen, Greve. I have orders to bring you in. Who’s to say your boss didn’t set you up?”
Greve walks back toward the door where I came in and practically smirks at me. “Yeah. I don’t think so. If they wanted to set me up, they chose a poor angel to get me.”
I am not! I want to shout. How did I even get to this point in the conversation? What the heck am I doing wasting time talking to him? Greve is coming back with me. “Whatever,” I manage to say.
“So, in case I didn’t make myself clear enough …” Suddenly, his hand is on my throat, squeezing my wind pipe shut. “You will come with me. I can kill you and deal with the bosses later.”
My lungs start to struggle with no air. Sure, I am immortal on Earth, but I could pass out under the stress of no air. Then I really wouldn’t know what he was doing to me. He inches closer to me, so close in fact, I am beginning to think he likes the rule of no personal space.
The door creaks behind him and he turns his head. I take that opportunity to knee him in the groin.
He releases me and stumbles to the floor, moaning. I collapse, almost on top of him, gasping for air. Think. Think, Ireland! What are demons hurt by? What am I hurt by when in my demon state? Happiness. Love. Laughter. Sweetness. Selflessness. Demons are inclined to feel anger, heartache, lust … pain. Those things are what Greve lives for. Forget it! I can research him when I get back home. Time to run! Time to move!
