Page 24 of Heart Shaped Wreckage
“Yeah… Alright. It was on fire and I can’t… Who was that?” He staggered.
“I suppose I should tell you the truth, since… I have no idea if we’re going to run into him again, but that was an angel named Aurelius. He’s a dick.” I didn’t really want to say much more. I couldn’t tell him about myself. It would scare him to know that I was what he’d consider a demon or a skinwalker.
“An angel? Ok… I might pass out again.” He started to sit down, and I quickly grabbed onto his arm and held him upright.
“Nope. Stay on your feet. We need to find shelter. It’s gonna get pretty cold out here, and I’ll be fine, but you're human.”
“No way can you just scoot by that statement. That was a fucking angel?” He pulled his arm free. “You have to explain that.”
“Angels are real, but not quite what religion wants you to believe. But do they exist – yeah. Trust me, most of them are assholes.” But there was a time when I called him brother and we shared the secrets of the universe together.
“Why was an angel… Is he after me?” he gulped.
“No. I don’t think so. But I don’t know for sure. It felt like he was after me, and it was personal.”
“You then?”
“Maybe… probably… Yeah, no, definitely. I think?” I was still trying to wrap my head around why Aurelius would be coming after me. I had lived down here for a long time, and it didn’t make sense. Why now?
“So that Aury person… the angel was after you? I’m just trying to be clear here.” His face started turning red. “That is totally freaking me the fuck out.”
“You look like you’re about to…”
“NO! Seriously, I am not built for this. I mean, look at me! I weigh one-twenty after a huge meal, I’m…”
“I think you should sit down.” I walked towards him.
“DO NOT TELL ME WHAT TO DO,” he screamed and pointed a finger at me. His hand glowed, and I ducked right before a blast of fire flew from his outstretched hand.
“CALM DOWN!” I ordered. An angry witch with no memory could apparently be dangerous.
“Oh, my God!” His face flushed in a normal blush, not in a I’m gonna shoot fire at you and try to fry you kind of way. He put his hands at his sides as if they might harm him. “I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to…”
“I think the question of whether you are magical or not has been answered. You are definitely a witch.”
“Apparently a crappy one.”
“Not all witches can create fire, so… Maybe a good one.”
“I would never try to hurt you,” he said, looking at me shamefully. “You’re my only friend.”
“You don’t know that. You probably have tons of friends.”
“Why is that angel after you? I think I deserve the truth since we’re stuck out here together.” He sulked, and I took a deep breath and thought about how to answer him.
I couldn’t tell him about me being a demon or a fallen angel. Human minds were not meant to have that kind of knowledge. Besides, there was a lot of demon-hate in the magical community. They didn’t really understand that we were not a one-size-fits-all community.
“Truthfully, I don’t know.” I didn’t lie. I really had no clue why that asshole had decided to smite me now.
“If he finds us, are we toast?” His eyes widened at the thought of being barbecued.
“Not necessarily. I can take care of myself. I was just surprised… that's all. I haven’t seen an angel on Earth in a very long time.”
“How long is long for you?” He bit his bottom lip. “I’m just thinking that there must be more to you than meets the eye,you know. I know you said you’re a shifter, but… to stand up to an angel would be… I assume you have to be more than that. Right?”
“I am. But that’s my secret for now. I mean you no harm, Kevin.”
“I know that. I just want to understand our chances if we run into him again with his sword all flamey and shit.”
