Soul Mate: A Novella

Ch. 13 Khloe

Staring at the screen of my smart phone sadness gathers in the corners of my eyes and I push my bottom lip out into a pout. Blinking rapidly, I force the tears of disappointment away and plaster a pleasant though fake smile upon my face as Cassie rushes to my side. Coming up behind me she throws her arms around my shoulders pulling me against her chest. As soon as she starts to talk, I realize she is buzzed. Thank the stars I don’t have to worry about her having to drive home since her apartment is just above the bar.

“Hey love! Ginny and I were talking, and we thought we should have a girl’s night. We can either go up and hang out/drink in my apartment or there’s always night swimming and drinking on the beach...” Cassie grins like she’s able to read my mind and maybe being an angel, she can, who knows. But at the same time, we both say, “the beach” and then burst out giggling.

“Jinx!” We both shout at the same time which causes us to laugh even harder. “Yeah, Samael had to go help Rim with something and cancelled our date for tonight so I’m definitely down for some girl time...”

Scrunching up her face in confusion Cassie looks at me quizzically for a second. “Huh, I wonder what Rim is doing that he would request help from Samael.”

Because I myself don’t know I shrug my shoulders at her question. “Sam didn’t elaborate on what they were doing.” I contemplate my next question “... so Rim still hasn’t attempted to speak to you yet?”

Hanging her head, she shakes it back and forth. “No,” Cassie sighs. “And honestly, I can’t blame him. I would probably have reacted the same way if the tables were turned.”

Taking her hand, I give it a squeeze. “Give it time. Everything will work out. Everything happens for a reason, right?” I give her a crooked grin, “let’s get out of here. Jason had me close up a few minutes ago. I just gotta take the money to his office.” With a nod Cassie asks if I need her help to carry anything back with us but I shake my head no, and we step out of the ticket booth so that I can lock the door behind us.

What originally starts out as just me, Cassie and Ginny ends up turning into quite the beach bash. Jimmy and Sean, who both graduated with me the year before, came out and they brought friends with them. I was slightly worried Jimmy was going to attempt to put the moves on Cassie as he had tried once before but to my relief (I think), his and Sean’s attention were both focused on Ginny. Shaking my head as I plopped down next to Cassie on the sand, I watched as Ginny and my friends danced to whatever song was being blasted from a blue tooth speaker that someone had set up and connected to a music app.

After a few seconds of watching them, I turned my gaze to focus on Cassie. Just glancing at her I could tell something was off. The look in her eye was dazed as though she had gotten lost in her thoughts. “Cass. Cassie!” She whipped her head around staring wide-eyed at me, a look of surprise etched upon her face.

“What!”

“Are you okay? You seem lost...” I let my question fall away as I looked her over. “Is it Rim? You know you can talk to me, right?”

A weak smile forms on her lips for a second but fades quickly as though the effort is just too much for her and then I hear her sigh. “On top of Rim being mad at me, something has happened to Aza. He was taken by The Legion of the Fallen Angels. The Legion says they will release him if I go to Hell’s Realm.”

Fear lights her eyes with worry. “But you can’t go there! Why do they want you anyway?” Astonishment is clear in my voice as my eyes go wide.

“No. I know. I’m waiting to hear back from my old Commander to see if they will be able to help me figure out a way to rescue him... It sucks. I’m a basket of nerves over worrying about Azael and now I’m worried about what Rim is up to. Ha. How did my life become so complicated?”

There is no humor in her laugh, and I frown in response.