Page 27 of The Angel's Kiss
“Looks like. But I won’t be living with you. I have a home in the Hyde Park area where they say there’s a lot of demon activity.”
“I wonder why you aren’t living in the same building as me?”
“Who knows? I don’t think any Guard is living there. We’re pretty scattered throughout the city and state. Each with our own districts to patrol. Since I’m young and new to the scene, they gave me Hyde Park, because I can work with two other Guards who patrol that area,” Marcel said.
“I guess that’s cool. We do need our own spaces, especially after living here for all these years,” I said. “And having your own district makes sense.”
“We’ll still be able to see each other and hang out, in addition to my duties.”
Marcel knew his role well. He’d be my scout, gather information for me and handle his own business to weed out wickedness. I was ready to start this next chapter of my life.
I smiled. “This day keeps getting better. Come on, let’s get the hell out of here.”
***
Inside the garage, Marcel climbed into his Audi and I was sitting behind the wheel of a beautiful black, Mercedes-Benz AMG SL 63 Roadster. I had no idea how much the car cost, but I could smell the money. It was gorgeous and I would have never thought in a million years that it would be mine. I guessed if I had to risk my life to save the world, the least I could do was live in luxury. Considering I spent twelve years in a state-of-the-art Guild, I was used to such finery.
Marcel pulled up in front of me. “You ready?”
“Hell yeah,” I said, giving him a thumbs up. I rolled the top down and we were off to begin our new life together.
***
After driving from LA to Chicago, we were both exhausted, but ready to see what our new homes looked like. I was now living in a penthouse condo on the seventy-fifth floor of the Stellar Building. Talk about having access to the company amenities, because that was what this was. Not that I was complaining. I opened the door and then walked into the slickest bachelor pad ever.
Leather and suede furniture, a hundred-inch TV, surround sound system, open concept, and state-of-the-art kitchen. Of course, I wasn’t the best cook, I knew how to make food to survive, but that wasn’t where my training was focused. Stood to reason I’d be ordering out quite often. I continued to gush over my new home as I toured it.
When I got to the master suite, my mouth dropped. It was huge, almost like its own apartment. I had a lounge area where there was a sofa, a desk, and chair, a library, a fireplace, and a bar complete with a sink and fridge. I turned in the other direction and saw that I had a table and four chairs in case I wanted to just eat in my room, I supposed. I made it to the section with the California King bed, dresser, and bench. The closet was humongous and I couldn’t wait to fill it with clothes.
I went to the other bedroom and it was very nice, a lot smaller than mine, but perfect for a guest bedroom. It didn’t have everything in it that mine did, such as the library lounge or bar, but it did have a TV, sofa, bed, and dressers as well as a private bathroom. I went back to my master and sprawled on the bed, and it was so damn comfortable. I think I drifted off to sleep because I awoke with a start at the sound of my doorbell ringing. I answered it to see Marcel. I let him in and he gasped as he looked around.
“Oh, fuck. Okay, now I’m jealous,” he commented. “I thought my home was awesome, but damn... they spared no expense on your lucky ass.”
I chuckled. “What does your place look like?”
“Not like this, mon Dieu.” Marcel checked out my master bedroom. “Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me!”
I laughed then.
“I don’t appreciate them splurging on you just because you’re a Guardian,” he said with a smirk. I knew he was joking. Well... there was probably some truth to that, but I knew he wouldn’t hold it against me.
I shrugged. “There’s a lot more of you all than us.”
He smacked his teeth. “Yeah, whatever. Still, this place is beautiful. And check out that view. I have a nice one in my home, but yours is amazing.”
I looked out at the wall of floor-to-ceiling windows and nodded. I even had a sliding door that led out onto the balcony. That was where we walked out onto and looked down at the bustling city below.
“Man, this is perfect,” Marcel said. “We’re so high up.”
I gazed down at the twinkling lights of cars and apartments and nodded. The air felt vibrant and I was charged with the energy that flowed through me. “It is.”
“So, are you excited about your life now? Like meeting your first demon? Speaking of demons, are you going to Call him?”
Azazel, that was who he was talking about. I shook my head. “I don’t need him.”
Marcel looked at me. “Every Guardian needs their Champion, Rai.”
“I’ll prove that I don’t.” I sighed. “Come on, let’s grab some food.”
