Detective Angel - Lost Angel series

Chapter 6

We pulled up to the safehouse in silence. Jake and Brooks were waiting outside for us. I could tell they were anxious. They didn’t make a move to help our new guests get out of the van. When I emerged from the back, Brooks stepped forward offering me his hand. I took it gratefully and allowed him to help me out of the van. Just then Sara rushed out of the house right toward me. Jake slid behind me as Sara threw herself at me.

“Angel! Oh my God you’re safe. I was so worried.”

I couldn’t help the laugh that escaped while Brooks rolled his eyes. “I’m just fine Sara. I told Brooks to leave me and go for help. I realize now that it wasn’t needed. I’m sorry to worry you.”

“I don’t care what you told him. He shouldn’t have left you no matter what.” She held me at arm’s length running her eyes over my body. “Now, Brooks. I think you need a lesson. Let’s go sir. I’ll make you regret worrying me like that.”

“Sara it isn’t all his fault.”

She looked at me momentarily before glaring at Brooks. “I know what you said but I’m still mad. So let’s go Brooks.”

I looked at Brooks and mouthed sorry. He just smiled and made his way into the home. Sara didn’t say anything else, she just took off after him. Jake sighed and placed his hand on the small of my back to move me inside.

“Sara was a mess when Brooks got back without you. We all told her that you would be fine but she still lost it. She thinks of you as her sister now so she’s protective.”

I just laughed as we stepped into the home. I could smell something delicious coming from the kitchen. My stomach grumbled. Jake chuckled.

“Lee and Olesia cooked something up for you and our guests. They work very well together. I think there might be something there.” Jake whispered this to me.

I knew the others could hear him but I wasn’t going to say that out loud. I just smiled and nodded. I could only hope that everyone was getting along. It would make it easier on them and me when I left. Upon walking into the kitchen I could see Olesia laughing as Lee smiled at her. There definitely was something there. I smiled at the scene in front of me.

“Angel, glad you’re back. We made some dinner for everyone. Olesia is a great cook.” Lee sounded proud. I smiled.

“It was nothing. I was going to work on our puzzle from earlier if that was alright Angel.”

“Of course it is Olesia. If you need me then just grab me.” I turned to our guests, “gentlemen. Please take a seat and dig in.”

“Thanks Doll. I’m starving!” Daryl and Sam nodded in agreement with Roy as they tripped over each other to get a seat at the table. Jeremy just huffed and went to sit at the table. Jackson and Phillip hesitated. Did they eat human food?

“My apologize to your friends little one, I am not hungry at the moment.”

Lee and Olesia were walking through the door to the outside. They couldn’t go through the tunnel with our guests here. I just smiled at Jackson.

“Jake, will you go check on Sara and Brooks please? Make sure she doesn’t kill him. I’ll be fine with our guests.”

“Yeah alright.” Jake grumbled.

I could tell he didn’t want to leave me, but he reluctantly walked out. I watched as Roy and the others loaded their plates up and began to devour their meal. I chuckled when I realized Jeremy had made me a plate so they wouldn’t eat it all.

“Jackson? Can you eat food like this?” My curiosity was going to get me in trouble.

“If we have to then yes little one. We don’t need it for nurturance though, so we don’t bother. The blood we drink provides what we need. And I ate before we came so I am fine.”

I nodded. I made my way over to the table. I could see that there were pork chops and mashed potatoes with some sort of sauce on them. There was also so kind of vegetable casserole looking dish. I sat next to Jeremy. He pulled the chair closer. He was pouting, that much I could tell. All of a sudden, I had lost my appetite. I ate small bites to appease the men in the room but I mostly pushed the food around my plate. Daryl was on my other side and eyed my plate longingly. I giggled and pushed the plate over to him. His face lit up as everyone glared at him.

“It’s alright Daryl, I’m not that hungry.”

He placed my plate on top of his and began to shovel the food into his mouth. No wonder he was so bulky. At that moment I heard the front door open and close. Jackson and Phillip were leaning on the counter talking quietly. When the door opened, they went silent and still as statues. I could hear Brooks walking through the sitting room, so I just smiled.

“Brooks. Good to see you’re alive.”

“Yeah I’m alive but a little worse for the wear.”

He laughed and placed a plate in front of me. I hadn’t looked his way when he walked in. I glanced up to him and froze. He had a busted lip and tissue hanging out of his nose. I gapped at him.

“She was really mad. But don’t worry. I have learned my lesson and will never leave you again. I thought you might not like what Lee cooked so I made you your favorite. Although I had to steal the bread from Jason.”

“Thank you Brooks.”

I smiled at him. He didn’t say anything to anyone else in the room. He winked at me and turned on his heel. I looked at my plate and realized he made me mushroom ravioli. It was one of my favorites. He did make it better than any other I had tried. Daryl looked at my plate in envy. I dug in with relish. It was so good I couldn’t help the moan that slipped from my mouth.

“Damn Doll. If that’s all it takes then I’ll cook for you every day.” Roy chuckled at his own joke.

I heard Jeremy growl. “Roy. I don’t think Jay is over her taking off on him yet. You might want to keep stuff like that to yourself.” Daryl spoke through a mouthful.

“I don’t understand the big deal. So I left to go back to work. I was perfectly fine before I met him and I’ll be fine now.” I scooped another piece of pasta into my mouth savoring the taste.

“Chere. You didn’t let me explain everything about our bond to you.”

“Who’s fault is that.” I glared at him and continued to eat even though I didn’t want food anymore.

“She has a point. We left you in order for you to explain the bond to her Jay. If you didn’t tell her the side effect then that’s not her fault. She didn’t know how it would affect you.”

“I know Jack!” Jeremy shouted exasperatingly. “Chere when you left, I could feel you getting farther from me. I thought it was because I was travelling so, I ignored it. When I got back to the room you still felt far from me. I rushed into the room to find you missing. I lost it. I immediately went to find Jack, thinking his people took you. Roy and Daryl had to hold me down, so I didn’t hurt anyone. It wasn’t until Sam went up to our room and saw your note, that I calmed down some. Then I was angry at you. I knew you would go back to your job since that was what you know. Luckily these guys went with me. When the guards told me that you weren’t there.” He sighed. “I’m sure you heard about what happened already.”

“All because I left?” I couldn’t help the confusion in my voice. Jeremy just pulled me onto his lap and buried his nose in my neck, inhaling deeply.

I looked around the room and every man was nodding. Phillip looked at me thoughtfully. “Does someone want to explain to me how she knows nothing. No offense poppet.”

I sighed and began to tell all of them my story. I hadn’t even told Jeremy all of it. When I finished everyone was silent. Jackson had taken my chair beside Jeremy while Phillip was sitting on the kitchen counter. I could feel Jeremy tighten his grip on me. Jackson looked at Roy and something passed between them. I sighed and was about to say something when I felt different again. What was this? Panic began to take hold in my mind as I tried to identify the power inside of me. Jeremy tightened his hold even more. Then the strangest thing happened. I became calm. The power was still there but it was like an old friend coming for a visit. Then I heard it.

What is this now? Why can I not protect my own mate! It was Jeremy’s voice but his lips didn’t move.

“I don’t need you to protect me.”

My sarcastic reply came out before I even thought about what was happening. Everyone was openly staring at me in shock. All but Phillip who looked amused.

“Chere?” I looked into Jeremy’s eyes. “Why did you say that just now?”

“Well you said why can I not protect my mate. So I thought I’d remind you that I don’t need protecting.” I c****d my head to the side and just looked at him.

“Chere. I didn’t say that out loud. I thought it.”

Oh. That’s why they were all looking at me funny. Did I just read his mind? Is it just because we’re mates or could I do this all the time? Then it sank in. I could read minds. I don’t know why but it was the truth. I could feel it in my bones. Jackson jumped up from his chair and began to pace. Jeremy pulled me as close to him as he could get me.

“Jack. What does this mean? Is it because we’re mates?” Jeremy sounded far away.

“That is a possibility Jay but I doubt it. I believe our girl is from one of the oldest families. They had multiple gifts due to their blood line. It would explain how she was able to heal Phillip completely. Also it would explain why she smells and feels like an ordinary human. If my suspicions are correct, then our girl is more powerful than any of us. She would be a formidable opponent. And an even greater ally. That particular family were all a force to be reckoned with. It was rumor that was due to the mixing of their bloodline with the demon blood.”

My face paled. I was part demon? I don’t know why that sounded so bad to me. The way Jackson said demon made me think no one cared for that race. Seeing my face Jackson stopped pacing and sat in his seat again.

“I’m sorry little one. I didn’t mean to frighten you. The demon race is…different. They are more feral and wilder than the rest of us. They stay away from everyone, even more than the wiccans. They are powerful beings that can cause major devastation if they choose to. There are many legends about what happened to them. The most common is that their elders saw they were more powerful than the others so they went to another world to keep us all safe. Whatever the case, they haven’t been seen in centuries.”

“What do you believe happened to them?” I sounded like a child afraid of the monsters under the bed. Jackson’s face softened.

“I believe that they are in hiding from all of us. Even the wiccans. I don’t think they are gone from us. Maybe someday we will all know the truth. For now, I think we need to focus on you. It seems that your powers are starting to awaken. Which means we need to find the wiccans quickly. Without your memories it will be difficult for you to control the power inside you. You’ll need a mentor if we can’t locate your family.”

“Wait. Does that mean that she won’t be allowed around us?” Roy asked.

“I’m afraid so. The wiccans won’t want us around her.” Jackson sadly proclaimed.

“No.” The word came out softly but strongly. “I will not allow anyone to dictate to me how I should live my life. Or who I may have around me for that matter. I don’t care what the wiccans believe or want. None of them came to find me. None of them tried to help me. So as far as I’m concerned, they can go to Hell.”

I had made up my mind and no one would change it. The men in this room came for me. They wanted to help me and protect me. They were as much a part of this as I was. I owed them more than I could ever repay. I would not allow someone to repay their kindness in that way. Roy laughed and Daryl gave me a thumbs up. Jackson smiled at me and nodded. Jeremy just clung to me not saying a word.

“You all are crazy. She’s a freaking wiccan. We shouldn’t even be around her now. You know as well as I do that she is off limits to us. We aren’t even supposed to talk to her. Have all of you lost your minds!” I could hear the panic in Sam’s voice grow as he spoke. Then every man growled.

“Sam. If you don’t want to be around me then why did you come here?”

“Damn it! I can’t help it. I feel drawn to you and it won’t go away.”

I merely nodded. “Since all of you will be staying with us, you may have the three bedrooms here. My crew and I are staying elsewhere on the property. I would elaborate but I take their safety very seriously. They have been my family since I was found.”

“They seem very attached to you doll.”

“They are. I’m afraid of what will happen when I have to leave them. But let’s not borrow problems. For now please rest here. One of my crew will be around to check on all of you. So if you need anything just ask. I will be working to ready them for a life without me. I had a feeling that this would be my last time with them. I’m sad to see I was right. Jackson I’m not sure about you and Phillip.”

“Don’t worry poppet. I’ll help Jackson with our needs.”

“Wolfie?” Jeremy looked at me then. “Ready for bed?”

Without a word Jeremy rose with me in his arms. I could hear the others snickering but we paid them no mind. I felt whole again in his arms. Sighing happily I closed my eyes and snuggled into his embrace. I could feel the wind on my body as we emerged into the yard. I realized then that I hadn’t told him where to go. Then I heard the barn door open. I popped my eyes open to see we had already entered the training room. He did move fast. I looked at him as he walked into my room and closed the door with his foot. I raised my eyebrow. How did he know this was my room?

“It smells like you.” I giggled as Jeremy carried me over to the bed. I started to wiggle so I could get down. “Shh Chere. I just need to hold you tonight.”

I nodded as he crawled onto the bed. He laid me down in the center of the bed on my side. I felt him lay down behind me then he pulled my back to his front. We lay there in silence just enjoying the comfort of each other. Before I realized, I had fallen asleep.