After the Fall ba-2 Page 14

  She leaned against the doorframe, wondering what Lash would’ve done. There was no doubt in her mind that he would’ve told her, even if it meant getting in trouble for it. To Lash, the people he looked over were more than assignments. He cared deeply for them. It wasn’t that Jeremy didn’t care. It was just that his loyalties were in a different place.

  At the thought of Lash, her hands shook and her heart pounded. She quickly pushed the thought of him to the back of her mind. She’d go crazy if she didn’t. She felt her nails dig into her palms as she clenched her hands into fists. It was taking every ounce of strength to wait for Jeremy. Only Chuy’s safety was keeping her there.

  Chuy stirred in his seat, and the sleeve of his T-shirt rolled up, revealing his tattoo. She wished she had been there to see the look on Welita’s face when she found out about it. She could see her now, chasing him around the house with broom in hand, threatening to smack sense into him. Chuy probably would’ve pretended he was afraid and apologized profusely to her, promising to never do it again. Although Naomi knew he would’ve been planning on his next one even as he said it.

  She sighed. Chuy was too young, too full of life to die, and Welita needed him. Maybe she could warn him, somehow. Even if she risked appearing to him like she had with Welita, what would she tell him: “Be careful and don’t die anytime soon”? “Lash’s brother is the archangel of death, and he’s waiting around for something to happen to you, so don’t die”?

  She shook her head. She didn’t want this kind of life. She didn’t want to have to choose between saving Lash or saving Chuy. She hated being pulled in different directions. It felt like she was being torn in two. And there was nothing she could do to stop it.

  Chuy shifted in the chair again, and a cell phone fell out of his lap. She glanced at him, seeing if the sound would wake him, but he continued to sleep.

  There was only one person who could understand her. And she desperately wanted an answer.

  She looked around the corridor, and seeing no one, she glided to Chuy. Standing over him, she willed herself to change into her human form.

  Without making a sound, she picked up the phone and stepped out of the room into the hallway.

  With a swipe and a few taps, she found Welita’s number. She probably shouldn’t be calling her. She had already crossed the line by visiting her, but she needed her.

  “Que paso? What’s wrong, Chuy? You’re never up this early.”

  Naomi swallowed thickly at the sound of Welita’s voice.

  “Chuy?” There was a pause. “Naomi.”

  “Welita,” she whispered, holding tightly to the phone. “I’m so sorry. I had to hear your voice one more time.”

  “What’s wrong, Mejita?”

  “I know something that I’m not supposed to know, and I want to do something about it. I want to tell that person, but I shouldn’t, and I still want to...but...but what if the... thing is supposed to happen?”

  “I haven’t had my coffee yet. You’re not making sense.”

  She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I think someone is going to die soon.”

  “Who?”

  “It’s... It’s...” She couldn’t lay that kind of burden on her. “I can’t tell you.”

  Naomi heard Welita’s breath hitch, followed by a muttered prayer. She didn’t have to tell her. It was as if Welita knew just by the sound of her voice. “Are you sure this person’s life will end soon?”

  “Yes. What do I do?”

  There was silence at the end of the line. And then her voice came out soft yet firm. “You let God’s plan unfold.”

  “But, Welita. I can do something about it. I’m an angel. Why shouldn’t I help? I can’t just stand by and watch him die.”

  “Ay, Mejita. We all die. Even if you were still here with us, someday you would’ve had to watch me die, bury me, and mourn for me.”

  She closed her eyes, and a single tear slid down her cheek. It was a cruel angel’s fate to have all these powers and still not be able to stop the heartache of watching her loved ones die. “Why? Why is this so hard?”

  “De la espina y el dolor nace la flor,” Welita said gently.

  “From the thorn and the pain a flower is born,” Naomi repeated the Spanish proverb. It was Welita’s favorite.

  “You have hardship now, but in the end, I know that something wonderful will come of it. Not only for you, but for all of us.”

  There was so much more she wished she could tell Welita and ask for her wisdom on it all: how to show love for Jeremy without having him confuse it for something more than sisterly love; and Lash, my God, she wanted to go after him so badly.

  As if hearing her thoughts, Welita asked, “What has Lash told you about this?”

  She couldn’t do it. She couldn’t even say his name without her heart breaking. She was barely keeping herself together as it was. “Welita, I have to go. Just know that I love you...we love you.”

  Deep inside, she had already known the answer. All she could do now was rely on faith and hope. Faith that she had the strength to carry on watching over Megan and Chuy, and hope that Jeremy would return soon with an army of angels to save Lash.

  And with that, she clicked off the phone.

  19

  It was a glorious morning with not a cloud in the sky, and all Jane could think about was how she wished it would rain. She fingered the material of her cream pantsuit nervously as she sat hidden behind the dark-tinted windows of the SUV, watching the mass of media assemble on the open field. Why had she agreed to do the announcement out in the open like this?

  She eyed the Prescott Oil office building, which sat a couple of hundred yards away from the make-shift stage that had been slapped together overnight, compliments of the company’s employees. A giant U.S. flag hung on the front, almost covering an entire wall of the three-story building. It was an impressive sight.

  A few employees, dressed in blue coveralls with the Prescott Oil emblem emblazed on the right side of their chests, walked around the stage, doing last minute checks. On the lectern, there was the familiar cluster of microphones from news stations around the country. Behind the stage was a large sign with her smiling face and the words, Sutherland for President.

  There was a steady trickle of people lining up in front of the stage. It was easy to tell the hard-core American Federation party supporters from the Prescott Oil employees who had been given the day off—only if they attended the rally. Members of the AF headed straight to Luke, giving him their congratulations on a good start to the campaign. Members of the community were directed to stand in the front row facing the stage where they were sure to be picked up by the cameras, obviously something Luke and his advisors orchestrated.

  A pretty blonde woman wearing a pale yellow summer dress caught her eye. She was talking to one of the stage workers, a heavy-set man, his face partially hidden beneath a blue cap that matched his work uniform.

  Jane peered through the window at the object the blonde woman had in her hands. Others in the audience were also waving something.

  Oh, my God. They have fans with my face on them. She rolled her eyes, not knowing whether to admire Luke’s marketing genius or to be embarrassed at watching her smiling face being waved about by dozens of people.

  As much as she hated the idea of seeing her smiling face flapping at her when she was on stage, she wished she could have one. It was not even eight o’clock in the morning, and she could already feel the heat of the day.

  There was a light rapping on the tinted window. “Five minutes, Senator.”

  Jane pressed a button, and the window rolled down. “Thank you, Sal.”

  She rolled the window back up and took out a mirror from her bag. Sapphire eyes stared back at her, and she wondered how she got here. How did she get from being an advocate for children’s rights when she was fresh out of college to battling lobbyists in DC and now vying for the presidency? It wasn’t something she ever wanted. She was perfectly happy wi
th her old job working in a nonprofit agency years ago.

  Then, she realized it had been Luke who encouraged her, gently pushing her down the path she was on.

  She couldn’t get Anita Duran’s words out of her head. She glanced out the window at Luke. His handsome face drew in a small crowd of men and women around him, all wearing what was obviously custom business attire. He had always been charismatic.

  Angels and demons. I wonder if that’s why he looks so young.

  She shook her head and laughed. She was letting her mind run away. It was nerves. That was all.

  She powdered her nose and closed the compact with a click. Okay, let’s get this show on the road.

  Luke flashed a grin as she approached him.

  “The stage is ready,” Sal said from behind her.

  “Wonderful.” Luke offered her his arm. “Ready?”

  “You bet.” She placed her hand into the crook of his arm.

  A wave of nausea hit her when she touched him.

  “Are you sure? You look pale,” he said.

  Jane looked into his gray eyes. They looked back at her, cold. She blinked, and his eyes were back to their normal selves. “I...I think it’s the heat.”

  “You there,” Luke called to one of the stage crew.

  The heavy-set man in the blue cap jogged to them. “Yes, Sir?” The man eyed Sal nervously, lowering his cap.

  “Bring the senator some water, quickly.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “Mr. Prescott,” Sal said. “I need a word with you.”

  “Not now,” Luke said.

  The young man returned and handed a bottle of water to Jane. “Thank you, uh, Mister...”

  “Eduardo.” He gave Sal a quick look and scurried off back to the stage.

  Jane took a sip of the cold water. “That’s better. I’m ready now...Luke?”

  When she turned to Luke, he was whispering frantically with Sal. She looked around, panicked, wondering if there was a breach in security. She knew that her announcement wouldn’t be popular with a lot of people, especially after the explosion incident. She feared someone would get hurt, trying to stop her.

  A shadow passed over her, and she looked up. She felt a sickly chill as dark clouds gathered overhead. “Luke, maybe we should cancel or move this inside. It looks like a thunderstorm is coming.”

  “Nonsense. Nothing can stop your day of shining in the limelight. It’s a new beginning for you, my dear.”

  * * *

  Naomi let out a sigh of relief when Lalo joined Chuy and Megan on the opposite side of the stage from Sal and Lucifer. She wanted to get closer, but she kept her distance, hiding in a cluster of trees near an office building. Even though she was in her angel form and they weren’t able to see her, she knew Lucifer and Sal could. She fought with every fiber in her being not to run over there and demand that they tell her where Lash was.

  Thankful, for once, that angels had enhanced hearing abilities, she listened to them arguing about why Lalo was there. Lucifer looked nervously toward the group of reporters, who were starting to get curious. It was like they could pick up the scent of a scandal brewing.

  She heard Lucifer order Sal to wait in the back of the crowd and to deal with Lalo later.

  Jeremy, where are you? She couldn’t let them get to Lalo. She knew she was there to watch over Megan, but if Sal touched a single hair on Lalo’s head, she didn’t care how powerful he was. He was going down.

  “Ladies and Gentlemen.” A Texas twang rang out through the audience when a middle-aged man wearing a tan Stetson spoke into the microphone. “As mayor of this fine town, I’d like to welcome you to Gardenville, Texas. This is a historic moment in our country’s history. It is the birth of a new party, the American Federation party. The AF will take this country by storm and forge for us a better and brighter future. It is my honor, my privilege, to introduce our fearless and dedicated leader, Texas’ very own, Senator Jane Sutherland!”

  There was polite applause as the senator approached the lectern. Naomi edged closer, her eyes darting between Megan and Chuy as the senator’s voice boomed through the speakers.

  “Thanks to all of you who braved the heat today. You are here because you believe that the American Federation can transform this nation, this country, into a better America.”

  As Jane spoke, Naomi watched Megan struggle to push her way past the security guards who blocked the entrance to the stage. The senator glanced in the direction of the disturbance but continued on with her speech. A few news reporters caught sight of what was happening and started making their way to the commotion.

  A gust of wind rushed through the trees, sending a flock of birds screeching out into the darkening sky. Flashes of light lit the sky, and the audience grew nervous.

  “Let go of me!” Megan tugged on a security officer who was dragging her away from the stage. “I have proof that Prescott Oil is illegally dumping the chemicals used in their drilling.”

  A small group of reporters swarmed to her, firing one question after another.

  “What proof do you have?”

  “Are you with Green Peace?”

  “Are you with Texans Against Environmental Destruction?”

  “Aren’t you Megan Dalene, the niece of the woman who died in the gas leak accident?”

  “It wasn’t an accident. Prescott Oil is to blame for my aunt’s death!” Megan cried over the thunder and wind. Her hair blew wildly, hitting against her face. “My little cousin was severely burned. She’s only four years old.”

  “You’re going to have to leave.” A security guard grabbed her arm and hauled her away from the growing crowd of reporters.

  “Leave her alone,” Chuy growled, blocking the guard. “She has every right to be here.”

  “Step back,” the security officer warned. He took out a walkie-talkie and called for police assistance.

  “Take it, Chuy!”

  He reached out to Megan’s outstretched hand and took what looked like a USB flash drive. He then turned towards the stage.

  The moment Chuy placed his foot on the step leading onto the stage, Naomi felt a surge of terror.

  “Don’t, Chuy!” Naomi ran to him, knowing he couldn’t hear her but praying that maybe, just maybe he could sense her.

  Then everything seemed to happen all at once.

  From the corner of her eye, she saw Lucifer nod in her direction. She felt a jolt hit against her back, and she fell to the ground. Quickly, she flipped over, just as one of the evil twins was about to strike. She flicked out her wings and took off up into the sky, with the dark angel chasing after her.

  There was another loud crack of thunder, and a stinging rain poured down. She was flying as fast as she could go, trying to out-maneuver the dark angel, when his twin appeared.

  She stopped and hovered above the audience, who were scrambling to get out of the rain. With one dark angel on her right and the other to her left, she had no choice but to fight.

  The dark angel to her left gave her a wicked smile. Just as he was about to attack, there was a loud crash, and he spiraled down to the ground with Jeremy on top of him.

  Naomi quickly turned around, and the other dark angel slammed into her, placing an arm around her neck. She twisted and clawed his arm, trying to pull him off her.

  She heard a scream in the crowd below. When she looked down, people were dropping to the ground. And that’s when she saw Sal pull out a gun. He was aiming it at Chuy.

  “No!” She wailed and bit into the dark angel’s arm as hard as she could.

  He screeched and released his hold, shouting a stream of obscenities.

  Quickly, she flew down toward the stage. “Run, Chuy!”

  Just as she was about to reach him, she felt a searing pain on her wing as the dark angel grabbed onto it. She watched helplessly as the dark angel jerked her back. She could see every single detail between Chuy and the senator as if it were all in slow motion.

  The senator pushed her wet
hair off her forehead and turned to Chuy, a look of recognition flashing across her face. She gazed down at his outstretched hand and was about to reach out to it when there was a loud crack.

  She turned in the direction of the sound, her blue eyes widening at the sight of the gun. Her head turned, and her red lips formed a silent “No,” as she looked to Chuy.

  In one swoop, she pushed him away and fell back as the bullet lodged into her own chest.

  “You fool!” Naomi heard Lucifer roar as he ran onto the stage.

  “Chuy!” Naomi screamed, jerking herself forward.

  A loud cackle of laughter from the dark angel was cut off by a loud bang, and she was suddenly free. She turned to face a grinning Uri.

  “Go! I’ll take care of Mr. Clean,” he said.

  Just then, Rachel emerged from the clouds with Raphael close behind her. His face was full of a rage she had never seen before and never thought possible from him.

  He lifted his hand, and a fierce ray of light streaked down, striking Lucifer in the chest. His body flew back and landed on the edge of the stage. His suit was torn to shreds, exposing severe burns all over his body as he convulsed, rolling down the steps. When he landed on the bottom, his body fell limp, his eyes open and blank.

  The dark twins and Sal stared down at the motionless body. Within seconds, they disappeared.

  “Let’s go,” Jeremy said as he flew toward the stage.

  Naomi and the others landed on the stage. “He’s alright,” she said with relief as she looked Chuy over. “He’s not hurt.”

  She watched as Chuy rolled over and crawled to the senator. Blood blossomed on her suit.

  “Senator. Hold on. I’ll get you some help.”

  She grabbed his hand. “Tell...tell your grandmother...”

  “Don’t talk, Senator. Save your energy. Let’s get an ambulance over here!” Chuy yelled.

  “Tell your grandmother...she was right,” she wheezed. She closed her eyes and winced. Rain slid down her pale face.