Page 27 of Michael
“Feels like we’ve known each other forcenturies,” the demon snaps, eyeing me with undiluted fury.
“Huh?” She shudders, her grip on the railing trembling. The hatred I feel for this monster explodes in my chest, judging by Amanda’s reaction to him.
“Richardwas just leaving,” I say in a calming tone, hoping to appease her worry.
“Yes, I am.” The demon squares his shoulders as he straightens his jacket. “I have some business to settlebackhome. Talk to you soon, love.”
Amanda remains silent, watching as the demon walks out of the shop, through the doorway, as an ordinary human would.
I immediately feel the need to hold her and whisper words of reassurance in her ear. I’d like nothing more than to confess my truth to her:I am Michael, an archangel of God, and I will never let anything bad happen to you.
Somehow, I lack the courage to speak. I don’t want to ruin what we have so far. Whatever it is, I like it.
One thing’s for certain.I’ll doeverythingin my power to drive Richard away.
CHAPTER15
Michael
I climbinto the driver’s seat of my big Hummer truck and turn the key. The engine roars to life and I can feel the tension radiating off my body like a wave of heat. I quickly scan the street for any signs of the demon, Richard, whose words still echo in my head—‘She’s mine.’Those three words made my skin crawl, and I know without a doubt that Amanda struck a deal with him.
As soon as I make sure we’re in the clear, I hit the gear and drive.
“Listen. I don’t mean to pry, but…” I begin, finding the conversation incredibly difficult—a first in my line of work. “That guy, Richard?” I need to warn her, but I don’t want to frighten her more than she already is.
“Can you turn on the heat? It’s kind of chilly,” she mumbles in a groggy voice. “I should’ve brought a blanket. A nice wool one. Knitted…” The words drift into silence.
“Sure,” I reply, hitting the AC temperature dial. Heaving a sigh, I gather my resolve to give my plan another go. “So, about that guy…”
Amanda yawns. “I like knitting,” she suddenly adds and grows silent again.
I take the off-ramp as I bite my lower lip. Have I overstepped the mark? It seems she doesn’t want to talk about Richard. Yet, I can’t help but be concerned about the possible repercussions that could come from her relationship with him. Is she aware of the risks she’s taking?
I let my gaze linger over the passenger seat, admiring the shape of her face and the long blonde lashes that frame her delicate features.
The light turns green and I hit the gas. I keep driving, heading to the hospital. The silence in the truck is almost smothering, and I can feel my nerves on edge.
I take a deep breath and try to restart the conversation. “So, what kind of deal do you have with Richard?”
The words feel like acid in my throat, but I know it’s important to get to the truth so that I can understand the full situation.
Amanda stirs in her seat before finally turning her head to meet my gaze with slumberous eyes. “He promised he could fix things for me,” she responds quietly, her stare avoiding mine as if she’s ashamed about what she’s done.
My grip tightens on the wheel as I try to contain my anger at Richard’s manipulation of Amanda. He must have known how desperate she was and taken advantage of her vulnerability. “What did he ask from you in return?”
Silence in reply.
My heart breaks for Amanda—this isn’t something she should be dealing with on her own. I want to wrap my arms around her, take away the pain and the burden she’s carrying, and let her lean on me. Who better than me to deal with a case of demonic obsession?
“It’s okay,” I reassure her softly, giving her arm a gentle squeeze before returning my attention back to driving safely towards our destination. “We’ll figure this out together when we get to the hospital, okay?”
No answer comes.
After a moment, I glance towards the passenger seat and catch sight of Amanda, sleeping soundly.
“Amanda?” My expression slips into a frown. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine,” she replies with eyes shut.
