Pure Soul Book 2

20. Cassiel

Something is so wrong with me. I should be angry with Aza! But the moment he walked up to me after Ana went inside all rational thought left my body. I stand up in front of him and as he takes my hand the only thing, I can think about is kissing him! I’ve missed him so much and stepping back I tell him so. I need him now without a doubt in my mind! When he says the same thing to me, I suggest he climb the balcony and come to my room. Like I said, all rational thought has fled my mind.

I make my way into the house, my heart beating a mile a minute. I quickly run up the stairs and into my bedroom. I go to the sliding door moving the curtain aside so that I can release the latch from its lock. After this I go back to my bedroom door, shutting it before locking it. As I turn around Aza is standing in front of me. Jumping into his arms I crush my lips against his before running kisses all along his neck and then gripping his face in the palms of my hands, bring his lips back to mine again. He removes every stitch of clothing from my body so slowly that he’s going to drive crazy. All the while his lips and hands roam freely over my body causing moans to escape my lips.

We tumble into my bed and after a little exploration on both our parts, we allow our souls to connect, merging, becoming one. After we make love I turn in his arms, snuggling my back into his chest. He nuzzles his lips against my neck as we drift off to sleep. I’ve never slept an entire night through while another has shared my bed with me, but I did just that. Of course, I am rattled awake by someone banging a fist against my bedroom door. Jolting to a sitting position, I remember I’m not alone and panic washes over me. Grabbing Aza’s clothes, I shove them into his arms and then push him through the balcony door. In a moment of crazy, I grab his face kissing his lips hard before saying, “I love you,” and then I demanded him to leave. Sliding the door shut I whip around to ask who’s banging at my door but stop myself as I realize I am still naked! Scooping up my night shirt, I tug it down over my head where it falls to mid-thigh. I brush my hands over my hair in an attempt to tame it down a bit hoping that when I answer the door, that whoever is on the opposite side will take my disheveled appearance as being due to having been asleep. Taking a deep breath, I release it slowly and then walk over to the door and pull it open.

“Daniel?” My eyes are beyond wide with surprise as I look at him. “Uh, what’s wrong? Why are you waking me up in the middle of the night?” I ask baffled.

“Oh Cass! I’m so sorry for disturbing you. I just had the most atrocious nightmare. It felt so real I had to come and see for myself that it had just been a dream and that you’re alright!” I now realize the look in his eyes is one of fear, so I open my door wider and let him come inside.

“Aw, Dan. I’m sorry. Come in, sit. Tell me what your dream was about.” I take his hand and lead him over to my bed so he can sit down. Rubbing my hand in a circular motion, I encourage him to tell me, advising him he will feel better if he does so.

Daniel nods his head, a ragged breath falling from his lips. “It was so intense Cass. We were fighting with the Fallen angels in a heated battle. It was so crazy because in the dream your human you’ve taken a liking to was a Fallen one. While he distracted you another of theirs came up behind you with an Astatine elemental sword and plunged it into your back, straight through your heart. There wasn’t anything I could do to stop it and I watched you collapse to the earth, take one last haggard breath and then fade into nothingness. It was so lifelike that I had to come see for myself that you’re still alive.” He chuckles at himself as he shakes his head feeling ridiculous now that he is here sitting next to me. “I guess I overreacted,” he adds hanging his head slightly in embarrassment.

“No, you’re fine. It’s sweet that you care.” I say as I lean over and kiss him on the cheek. “Come here,” I say. “Lay down with me. You can share my bed with me and this way if you have another nightmare, you’re right here next to me and will know immediately upon waking up that it was just a bad dream.” Pulling him down on the bed I wrap my arms around him in a comforting embrace.

“Are you sure you’re okay with that?” He asks hesitantly but as I nod yes, he relaxes next to me, and I can feel him slowly drifting off to sleep. After he is zonked out, I get out of bed and go down into the kitchen deciding to make myself a cup of tea. Sitting at the island I slowly sip on my tea as I think about Dan’s crazy dream. Something’s nagging at my conscience as I replay his words. An image flashes across my mind of pitch-black eyes that could rival the darkest of nights. I know there’s a connection between the black eyes, Aza, and Daniel’s dream but something is blocked off in my mind not allowing me to connect the dots which causes me to growl in frustration.

The image flitters out of my mind and I heave a dramatic sigh before slumping the side of my face into the palm of my right hand. Lethargically I lift my cup of tea with my left hand raising it to my lips and inhale the delicious aroma that only tea can produce. Suddenly my phone vibrates and buzzes on the island. Jumping in my skin, I sit my mug down and quickly slam my hand over top of the device. How I didn’t knock the hot liquid over in the process I will never know. There’s a message waiting, and I unlock the phone noting that it’s nearly 4 in the morning. I’m pleasantly surprised to see that Aza’s name pops up and I wonder why in the world he’s awake at this hour. Do you think you could come over to my place at dusk tonight? I’ll leave the sliding glass door unlocked, just walk on in. I send him a quick reply saying I will figure out a way to slip out and meet up with him.

()()

“Okay, everyone gather round. I’m going to give the breakdown of how the rest of today will go,” Zad speaks loudly so that everyone within the home base can hear him. Once everyone has gathered into the living room and kitchen area so that they can hear him give orders, Zadkiel continues; “the baulk of you will pack up the house while two extractors and Turiel and Cassiel will go back out to the site to finish the excavation. Those four will return to the command center tomorrow with the remaining Astatine. Any questions?” His eyes bounce around the room before giving a quick nod. “Let’s get a move on then.” Zad claps his hands together once indicating the briefing is over and for us to disperse so that we can get to our perspective tasks.

I’ve gone to my room to gather my sensor that triggers my armor and hook it over my ear like those things’ humans wear called blue tooth. Hearing a knock against the frame of my door, I turn to see Turiel leaning against the wood panel. “Hey Cass. I’m running up to the grocery shop to grab some beverages. Is there anything you’d like me to pick up for you to have while we’re out on site?”

Thinking for a moment, I say I would love for him to get me an orange flavored Gatorade. He says okay and disappears a second later. Knowing I won’t be leaving for the next ten minutes since Turiel is using the rental, I sit on my bed and stare down at my phone. I have such an urge to text Aza but I’ve not a clue what I want to say in the message. I know I need to tell him that our mission is over and my heart breaks to think about not seeing him again because it’s not like I can bring a human to the heavenly realm. I stuff the phone back into my pocket deciding that I need to tell him in person that after today I will probably never see him again.

Beep, beep! I hear the van horn honking indicating Turiel has returned. Walking down the steps, I quickly make my way out the front door and over to the rental where I see two angels putting their equipment into the back end of the vehicle while Turiel waits patiently in the driver’s seat for us to climb inside. After we are all situated and buckled up, Turiel backs out of the driveway and hits the highway so we can get to the dig site.

Honestly, I didn’t think we would be standing guard over the site for as many hours as we did. However, after the Astatine is removed from the earth it has to be carefully placed inside containers and then packed in small, insulated boxes so that it can be transported back to the base and into the heavenly realm. By the time the excavation is completed the sun has maybe an hour before it starts setting. We all pile back into the van and then Turiel returns us back to the house that is now for the most part sitting empty. All the angels have returned and the two that were with us will be heading within the next five minutes into the Heavens. Turiel and I will stay through the night, cleaning all evidence of us having dwelled here.

I had just turned on the water so that the shower could heat up when I hear a commotion coming from down below in the kitchen. Since it’s just me and Turiel, I rush down the stairs to make sure he is alright. Just as my right foot hits the last step I hear a thud like that of someone having fallen to the floor. A flood of worry consumes my body and I dash into the kitchen where my eyes land upon an unconscious Turiel on the tile floor. Falling to my knees, I hover just above his mouth to see if I can hear him breathing. Placing my hand on his chest I feel it rise and fall and breathe a sigh of relief. Confusion sets in just now and I look about the room. I had just spotted a large lump on the side of his head as though something heavy had been knocked against it as a shadow appears over me, and I push myself backwards sliding across the floor so that the wooden paddle cutting board thingy swishes by instead of hitting me in the head like it had Turiel. Flipping to my feet I look to see who’s holding the impromptu weapon and stare in shock to see Belial standing in front of me. “What in Heaven’s name are you doing in here?” I ask as I try to back away from the very unstable mental looking chick. A menacing smile stretches across her face.

“I am here to end you,” she says with a sneer. An evilness pours off of her in waves and I can do nothing more than stare at her in shock. Slowly my body begins to function, and I do my best to back away from her. However, I’ve managed to back myself right up against the sliding door. “Stars above,” I mutter to myself as I move my right hand behind my back trying to feel for the handle. “Did you really think I was going to continue to let you steal Azael away from me?” Belial growls out. Seriously, how many times can a body go into shock before the heart stops functioning? Aza never said they had ever been together. She pulls her arms back winding up to swing the paddle thing at me again. My hand finally grasps the door handle and I yank it open, tumbling backward through the open space, narrowly missing being knocked in the face by the thick slab of wood.

“You’re nuts,” I shout at her as I find my footing. “He’s my true mate and I love him! Just leave us alone!” Belial charges headfirst at me as though she is going to tackle me. I turn on my heel and run. I run up Aza’s back deck and pull open the sliding door before throwing my head left and right as I look for him. “Aza! AZA! Help me!” I shout but he doesn’t come. This is when I realize he isn’t even home. The house is pitch black. A word I’ve hardly ever said falls from my lips in a rough scream, “F- U- U- C- K!” I go to leave and slide to a stop as I see Belial standing in the doorway of the sliding door. My sneakers slip as I quickly try to turn and get to the front door. As soon as my hand wraps around the brass metal I jerk it open and then begin to run.

My intuition is telling me to run towards the dunes and I don’t hesitate to question it. I know my life depends on the moves I make next...