Pure Soul Book 2

3.

Once we have cleaned up, putting condiments away, any leftovers though small are stored in the refrigerator and dirty dishes placed in the dishwasher for cleaning, we all take leave of the kitchen each going to our individual rooms for the night. Baraqiel had informed us as we finished eating that we would be up and moving before the sun rose in the sky in the morning, to which we all groaned of course but it is part of our assignment so we do not and will not complain about it.

I had just finished changing into pajamas, well, an oversized tee shirt and a pair of boy-shorts when I hear a light tapping at my bedroom door. I can’t help but grin because I know it is Daniel and though it’s not the ‘stupid, in love’ grin, it is a grin of knowing that what we will be doing tonight isn’t for the faint of heart! I really want to be a smart ass and sing out, who is it, but I decide against it and instead open the door where my eyes fall upon a shirtless Dan with grey sweatpants hanging just low enough to show that marvelous V. My eyes roam of their own accord over his glorious narrow waist and chiseled abs before climbing to his face so I can gaze into his emerald eyes, and I catch myself in the midst of a sigh.

Barely uttering the H in the hello, I was about to say, Daniel has scooped me up, wrapping my legs around his waist as he enters my room. I giggle at the sudden movement and look over his left shoulder to see him as he kicks out behind him, shutting the door with his foot. After this is accomplished, I drape my arms over his shoulders, running one hand through his feather soft wavy brown hair before bringing my lips to his mouth, kissing him deeply. We find ourselves naked and falling onto my bed in no time and let me tell you, it is the best way to break in a new mattress!

I am a horrible angel though because once we are finished having ‘fun’, I kick him out of my bed and out of my room. I’ve never been much of a cuddlier, and I wasn’t about to start now, plus the bed I claimed really wasn’t designed to hold more than one person and I like to stretch out taking every ounce of space for myself, what can I say, I’m selfish in that way. Also, I do not find I sleep very well when sharing my bed and I want to be well rested for our quest tomorrow.

The alarm I had set on the old-fashioned alarm clock thingy goes off way too soon for my liking. As my eyes flutter open, I find myself staring at bright red digital numbers flashing 3:45a.m. Muttering a dammit, I push myself up and swing my legs over the side of the bed before stretching my hand out to tap the top of the device or rather hit the darn thing because I can’t get it to shut off!

Seriously, there’s no better way to start a morning than being pissed off first thing. Grumbling to myself, I finally push on the right button and the silence that comes with it is music to my ears. I pad across the fake hardwood floor to the private bathroom attached and turn the knobs on the tub to get the water running and heated before I turn to the cupboard by the sink and grab myself a couple of towels for my hair and body to use once I’m done with the shower I will be hopping into in just a few seconds.

I’ve never used a hairdryer as it is not something utilized in the heavens, and I don’t plan on using one on earth either so after I’ve dried off, I pull my hair into a loose bun and then walk back out to the bedroom to get dressed. About fifteen minutes later I head down to the kitchen hoping that someone has already started to brew a pot of coffee. It isn’t something we have in the heavens either but on different missions I’ve come in contact with the beverage and have become quite hooked on it. “Thank the moon,” I whisper to myself seeing a pitcher of the black liquid heating on the machine. Turning my attention to the kitchen cabinets, I begin to rummage through them in search of a mug I can use.

“Hey,” Daniel whispers against my ear surprising me and causing a squeak to fall from my mouth as I jump against the unexpected touch on my waist and breath tickling against my neck.

“Oh, my, stars, you ass! You scared me! Don’t do that!” I slap his chest but laugh when I turn to look at him. His eyes look like a deer caught in head lights. I didn’t think my tone had been harsh when I playfully yelled at him but the way he’s staring at me, I must have. Oops... Grinning at him, I let him know that I was just playing and then asked if he’d like a cup of coffee to which he nodded his head yes. My body wants to squirm as I can feel Daniel still looking at me, watching me. I feel like a specimen under a microscope or something. Quickly I pour coffee into one of the two cups I had pulled down from the cupboard and pass it off to him.

We take a seat at the island just across from where the coffee pot is. The silence between us is growing and slowly becoming awkward. Thankfully ‘B’ and Zad walk into the room shortly after I was thinking about the awkwardness. The two are talking about our pending mission and my ears perk up. “Yeah, I’ll take Turiel and Cassiel with me. We can go on the Canadian side along the border of the Niagara Falls, make our way into one of those villages like Queenston or beyond that into the town Niagara-on-the-Lake, in Ontario,” Baraqiel said as he grabs a mug from the cabinet and then pours himself some coffee.

“Okay, and then the twins and I can go along the American border and check out Cave of the Winds on Goat Island in Niagra Falls State Park.” Zadkiel adds following behind Baraqiel and taking a mug for coffee to have himself. Looking over his cup as he takes a sip of the hot liquid, Zad finally notices that Dan and I are sitting in the kitchen listening to their conversation. His light blue eyes grow wide in surprise at seeing us. “Uh, hey you two. Where’s everyone else? We need to be heading out in just a few minutes.”

Hopping off the stool, I say, “I’ll run up and check that they are up if you want.” Seeing Both Commander and 2nd in command nod approval, I dash out of the room and up the steps. Stopping at the first door on the left I wrapped my knuckles against the white painted wood of the door before opening it and sticking my head into the room. “Hey Turiel, Zadkiel wants to leave in a few minutes. He sent me up to make sure you’ll be ready to go.”

Turiel is standing just off to the left of me by a tall grey dresser. He turns his forest green eyes to look at me; “yeah, heading down there now.” With a nod of my head, I say okay before shutting the door and continuing down the hallway. The third door on the right is sitting ajar and as I brush my knuckles against it, it opens wider. “Ha-lluuuu,” I sing out to get Ana’s attention.

“Cass? In here,” Ananiel shouts from inside what appears to be a closet. Sticking her head out from the darkened room, she smiles when she sees me standing in front of her. “I’ll be down in just a minute. I can’t find my dagger.” I nod and tell her I will let Zad know. After leaving her room I walk into my room remembering I needed my daggers too. I wasn’t going to take my sword just because I didn’t want to have to deal with strapping it to my back and we didn’t have reason to believe this specific trip was going to be dangerous to us. I strap my daggers to my arms though because you never know and it’s better to have some protection for “just in case.”

Down below I hear Baraqiel shout, “yo, let’s go! Move it!” Quickly I leave my room and rush down the steps to see Zad, ‘B’, Turiel, and Dan standing by the front door. The only one missing is Ana. “We need to get going, Ana. Get your butt down here!” Baraqiel yells out.

Seconds later we can hear her thundering down the steps coming to a stop right in front of me. I watch her finish buckling the strap that held her dagger against the inner portion of her left arm. “Sorry, I placed my dagger in one side of my bag that I normally don’t keep it in and didn’t think to check it, but I’m ready now.” Zadkiel grunts but doesn’t say anything, he just opens the door and motions for all of us to go out of it.

“Out of curiosity, is there a certain area we need to be in to find the authentic, non-synthetic Astatine?” I ask the question more to fill the silence than out of being curious though I wouldn’t mind an answer, so I let my eyes bounce between ‘B’ and Turiel, one on either side of me as we walk along an open field of dried-up corn stalks.

“There’s a town on Lake Ontario in the Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada named Grimsby. That is the general direction we are heading.” Pulling a small square device out of his pocket, Baraqiel adds, “once near the town this will help us locate Astatine. This device can detect Thorium and Uranium. Astatine can be found on earth following the decay of the aforementioned elements. With that said, there are 20 isotopes of Astatine all of which are radioactive. The element forms by bombarding bismuth isotopes with alpha-particles and once removed from the earth has a small window of time it is pliable for use.”

“So, if we do find it, how do we manage it, contain it, touch it?” Turiel asks as we turn and began marching through the deserted field.

“Valid question, within each of your packs that you carry there is a set of gloves and containers capable of containing the element and by hour seven we must be back at the labs so that our wielders can manifest the Astatine into swords that will end the Fallen ones.” ‘B’ says in response.

“Right, easy peazy,” I say chuckling and rolling my eyes. “I’ve a question. Why couldn’t we have used a vehicle or whatever humans call them? Why are we going on foot?”

Baraqiel sighs as though there is an obvious answer to my question but if that were the case, I wouldn’t have asked in the first place. “Because Astatine isn’t an element easily accessible by typical humans paths or roads traveled.”

“Well, I guess that makes sense,” I reply as we come to stand at the far end of the field where it ends about a foot before seeing the woods that looking at ‘B’ I know we will be trudging through shortly. “And now I suppose we get the privilege of hiking through the forest...” Watching him nod I readjust the backpack straps tightening them on my shoulders and walk forward.