Page 32 of The Angel's Kiss
“God, you’re no fun,” Azazel fussed as he climbed off my bed.
I turned to him. “I wasn’t put on this Earth to be your fucking entertainment.”
“No, you were put on this Earth to be my fucking Guardian, but you fucking suck at that, too,” Azazel snapped, all of his playful flirtation gone from his tone and expression.
“Well, someone seems sexually frustrated,” I taunted.
He rolled his eyes. “That would make two of us.” He pointed to my crotch and I looked down to see that my cock had betrayed me again.
I huffed. “Again, demon, why are you here?”
Azazel brushed his hand through his bangs, only to have them fall gracefully back into his face, making him look like a damn model. “Demons are up to something. There’s been talk of them looking for a key of some sort.”
“Do you know why or what that key is?”
“Is this you accepting my help?”
“No,” I shot back.
“Only a fool cuts off his nose to spite his face, Rai. Are you a fool?”
“And only an idiot and narcissist can’t take a hint. I. Don’t. Need. You. Leave,” I snapped.
He just scoffed, but then vanished before my eyes in a puff of black smoke, which dissipated instantly and that looked pretty cool, to be honest.
I slid my leather jacket on to go out and enjoy my night. I remembered what Darius had told me before I left. He wanted me to enjoy my life. Being a Guardian didn’t mean that I hunted demons in my every waking moment. I was given plenty of means to live a fulfilled life and I made sure to indulge.I ate at the best restaurants in the city and Chicago had plenty. Patronized the theaters, orchestras, all of the things I’d never experienced as a kid. My parents were working class and splurges had to come on a budget.
I missed my family, but I decided not to check in on them. I knew they were alive. If demons ever caught me spying on them, they’d get inquisitive and I refused to put them in danger. I snatched my motorcycle keys off the counter and opened the door to leave when I saw Marcel standing in front of me, hand out as if he were about to press my bell.
“What’s up?” I asked.
He smirked and held up an envelope. “We need to talk.”
I checked my watch to note the time. My movie didn’t start for half an hour and the theater was ten minutes away. I had time. I let him in. “So, what is this about?” I asked as he walked over to my kitchen island and sat down on one of the two stools. I remained standing on the other side.
“The demons are up to something big, but I don’t know what yet. There’s been a lot of talk about looking for some kind of key,” Marcel said, and his tone was ominous.
I frowned because Azazel had just told me about this before I made him leave. “What’s in the envelope?” I pointed at it.
“Here.” Marcel handed it to me and I opened it, reading the contents and looking at the photos of several kids, some looked like teenagers. “Other Guards have noted demons scoping out these kids and their families. Some kids have gone missing who were living on the streets and from orphanages.”
I paid close attention to every photo. I looked over the notes taken for their identities, the locations of their homes, schools, their parents’ workplaces, et cetera. “Just what in the hell are they up to?” I asked myself, but Marcel answered.
“I don’t know.”
I gave him an exasperated look. “I know that already. I was just talking to myself.”
“Oh? Sorry.” He shrugged apologetically.
“Do the other Guardians know anything?”
He shrugged. “You can ask them.”
“Lot of help you are,” I teased.
He laughed. “You get what you pay for.”
This time, I chuckled. “I guess I’ll have to pass on that movie tonight. I’m going to check out these kids and their families. See if I get tingles from any of them.”
