SEMILA LEANG

It wasn't long before they were back in Samantha's car, heading for the Finnie house. But not until after smell of the car had Samantha running back to her flat, where she grabbed some air freshener. Now the car smelled of puke and potpourri, not the best mix, so Semila decided to open the window again, just for Samantha's sake of course.

The Angel was delighted just watching people on the streets. She loved how the mortals crammed in everything they could in their short lives. As they moved through the inner city though, her mood changed. People here were desperate, she could feel it. Samantha put the handbrake on, the clicks it made caused Semila to jump. She turned to Samantha.

'Where are we?' she said.

'Just a quick pit stop Sem, I have to tell the foundation why I wasn't there last night.'

Semila got out of the car and looked around. 'What is this place?' she asked Samantha.

'It's a shelter for the homeless, I work here three nights a week,' she replied.

'Wow,' said Sem, 'You are like a guardian angel too.' She winked at Samantha. 'I knew we had something in common.'

She followed the mortal girl in through the doors. 'Just wait here in the foyer Sem, I will only be a minute,' said Samantha.

Semila sat down, opposite two children, a boy and a girl. She smiled.

'What's your story?' asked the older scruffy looking boy. 'You don't look homeless.'

A sad expression crossed Sem's face. 'Oh, but I am, and have been for thousands of years. It's not nice being homeless. 'She shook the sadness away. 'Anyway, what's your story big man?' she asked the boy.

'They wanted to put us in a home; our Mam got the cancer and died. Now we are by ourselves. So we ran away. We didn't want a new home without our mam, and dad split when we was younger.' He grabbed the smaller girls' hand. 'We can make it on our own.'

Semila moved over to the girl and put her arm around her. 'I'm sure you can. But sometimes a little guidance is all you need to set you on your path, here take my hand.'

The boy shook his head and crossed his arms. 'We don't need another grown up, we don't need anybody.' The boy looked up and got lost in those eyes. He unfolded his arms, took her hand and the world seemed to stop. Both children looked up at Semila as she started talking, lost in the wonderful voice coming from this strange woman. They sat bathed in a warm glow, until she stopped speaking and the glow lessened.

Semila looked down at the two children beside her. 'You are not unguarded anymore little ones. I have ensured a good friend of mine will stand guard over you. You will never be alone again.' Semila stood up and sat opposite them once more. Both children sat, slack jawed, staring at Sem.

At that moment, Samantha walked into the foyer. 'Right then,' she said, 'That's sorted, let's go.' She then noticed the two children staring. She looked at Semila who just shrugged. Samantha bent down to get eye level with the boy. 'Someone will be with you soon, okay? Just wait here,' she said giving him a warm smile.

The boy nodded, not even looking at Samantha. He lifted his arm and pointed. 'She's an angel.'

Sam stood up and ruffled his hair. She turned and looked at Semila who was still sat smiling. 'Believe me,' she said, 'She's no angel.' And walked out of the shelter.

Semila followed on, looked back at the children, and winked. A car screeched to a halt a man jumped out of the car, without even shutting the door. He came running up the steps to the shelter, almost knocking into Sem. 'Beg Pardon,' he said as he hurried past.

He opened the doors to the shelter, just as Semila got into the car she heard the children shouting. 'Dad.'

Semila looked up to the sky, winked and nodded. 'Thank you old friend,' she said. Then got in the car.

#

Samantha punched in the key code and Semila watched nonchalantly. The whir of electronic motors buzzed as the gates came to their final resting place, opening the road before them. Samantha put the car into first and moved off up the road to the house.

'How could they afford this house anyway?' asked Sem.

A sad smile appeared on Samantha's face. 'They won the Lottery, or rather John did. Dan, that's his dad, found the ticket in his jacket pocket. It was a few weeks after he got knocked down and his clothes were given back. It was kinda weird because the hospital doesn't normally do that. Clothes that covered in blood normally get incinerated.' She parked up just outside the grand house, as she got out she continued. 'Anyway, some fella dropped the bag off at John's old house and limped off.'

Semila frowned as she watched the world whizz by the window. Things didn't add up. 'Limped off? That's a lot of detail isn't it?'

Samantha smiled. 'Yeah, but that's how Dan tells it. Apparently the fella didn't even look back when Dan shouted for him. Anyway, that's when he found the ticket. They won six point four million, lucky for them really. Because I don't know how they would have kept John alive without the money. The hospital wanted to turn the machines off after a month.'

Semila looked up at the big old house as if in thought. All the doctors were inside John's room, along with his parents who were eager for information.

Samantha and Semila walked in and John's mam pounced. 'Where the hell have you been? Its eleven, you were supposed to be here for eight.'

Semila stepped forward and grabbed her hand. 'It's Okay Mrs Finnie, we're here now.'

Diane stepped back. 'Yeah,' she said. 'I guess it's okay now.'

They looked on at the other Doctors, screens showed various wave patterns, a silver sphere hovered over his head and various types of medicines were lined up, ready to be injected when needed. Both parents and Samantha looked on, then a sudden thought occurred to them all. Almost in unison they turned.

John's dad cleared his throat. 'Aren't you joining in Miss Leang?'

Semila shook her head. 'Fuck no! They all look busy as bees. I'll do my doctor stuff when they've finished fucking around.'

Semila just smiled and watched on, getting bored watching all the doctors do their tests, so she decided to walk around John's body and the machines. She picked up a chart and pretended to look at it, one of the main doctors approached her. A weasel looking man, his white coat was too big for him, and the glasses he wore looked like the bottom of beer bottles.

'So you are the new addition to the team, Miss Leang I presume.' He held out his hand.

'That's right,' she said, and slapped his hand. The doctor raised one eyebrow. 'Right, what exactly is your field Miss Leang? You have watched us for a while now and put forth no help, helped with any theories, nothing. And you have the clipboard upside down.'

Semila fought back the desire to punch him in the throat. 'My field?'

The movement in the room quieted, allowing the machine's steady beep to fill the silence. Everyone had stopped working.

'Yes,' said the doctor. 'Your field, your speciality, what are you actually good at?'

Semila put the clipboard down on John's slack body and put her hands behind her back. The desire to punch him was a lot stronger now. 'My field is head stuff, yes that's it. I'm a head doctor, you know brains and shit like that.'

The doctor turned to John's body and gestured with his hand. 'Then please Miss Leang, enlighten us, tell us what your prognosis is.'

Semila smiled as the others moved away from John. 'Oh, right.' She took a pen light from Dr Ryan's coat pocket and moved over to John's body. 'Hmm,' she said as she opened John's left eye. 'Interesting,' she said as she pressed for the light on the pen torch. It was back to front and she shone it in her own eyes instead.

Hoping no-one would notice, she let John's eye close and grabbed his wrist, she was sure doctors did this. 'Wow, now that is interesting.'

The doctor's patience had come to an end. 'What Miss Leang? What is interesting?'

Semila put the hand down. 'John's tendons have shrunk, when his arm is straightened like this.' She picked up the hand again and straightened the arm. 'It looks like he's giving you the 'V' sign. You know, telling you to fuck off pumping him full of drugs and shit.'

The doctor turned to both parents. 'This woman is a charlatan, she is no doctor. Get her away from John. In fact, call the police please.'

Semila clapped her hands together. 'No!' she said and everyone froze like statues. 'Listen up fuckers. You are going to tell Mr and Mrs Finnie that there is nothing else you can do today, you're going to pack up all your shit and go home. Maybe have a few beers, you know chill out and shit. Does anyone have any objections to this course of action?'

No one moved or spoke.

'Excellent. Oh yeah, forget about the last ten minutes,' she said and clicked her fingers.

The doctor faced John's parents. 'So like I said that's all we can do for the day; we're going to pack all our shit up.' He hesitated. 'Please excuse that language, I don't know what came over me.'

Semila smirked. 'We are going to pack up and will be back tomorrow. In the meantime, the machines will monitor John.'

It only took a few minutes and the team were leaving the room, Semila smiled when one of the team mentioned having a real urge for a few beers. Once they were gone, Semila spoke to the parents. 'Okay, I will run my tests now. I don't need any help with this. It's all under control.' She gave them a reassuring smile.

'If you're sure,' said John's dad.

Semila nodded and the three walked out, shutting the door behind them. She walked over to John. 'Right you fucker, it's time to rip your ass out of there.' She put her left hand over John's heart, her right hand went over his face. She closed her eyes.

When she opened them she was floating in the dark. John's glass coffin was floating in front of her, she smiled as she started to glow.

John could see the light. 'That's it Sem.' He shouted and banged his fists on the glass. 'Get me out of here.'

Semila glowed hotter, brighter. John shielded his eyes. Then he heard the crack. He looked up, the glass coffin he was in had a crack from top to bottom. He pounded the glass harder. 'That's it Sem, you're doing it. You really are!'

Semila blazed hotter more cracks appeared, John hit harder. 'Yes! Yes! You've got it Sem! You're brilliant.' John kicked and pounded and the glass started to give. Out of the corner of his eye John saw something else, some sort of dark moving towards the light. John went very cold.

'Sem! Sem, there's something behind you. Semila, look behind you!' Semila glowed hotter, brighter and the glass cracked more. John pounded hard, a chunk of glass broke away and John looked out. Grimsol.

'Sem! Behind you!' John shouted.

Sem's heart faltered as she heard John's voice. She smiled. 'John! It work--'

The demons impact sent her reeling, head over heels. John punched out another piece of glass. The demon snorted at him and went after the Angel.

Semila steadied herself, the hit had hurt her more than she was willing to admit. And the demon was coming up fast. She avoided the next attack by a hair's breadth, back spinning as fast as she could. She stopped and her knife appeared in her hand. Grimsol laughed as a vicious looking sword the size of Semila appeared in his.

The Angel backed off. 'Obviously been working hard, how many deaths did it take for you to be awarded with that?'

Grimsol grunted and swung the sword at her head, she ducked and moved back. John kicked out another piece of glass.

'It's not the deaths, you stupid bitch,' replied the demon, 'It's the way the deaths are done.' He swung it again, with the intent of slicing her from head to toe.

Semila jumped to the side.

'You see,' he started again, 'I decided to take your line of work, and I found a recipient worthy of my talents.'

He feinted a swing, Semila jumped to the side again and caught his hoof in her face. Sem's head snapped back and she flipped head over heels into the blackness. John pushed hard, and the glass gave. He fell forward and landed in the box. Semila followed landing heavily inside along with John. 'You got to Blink out John, you gotta do it now.' She looked around on the floor and stuffed the battered old photo in his hand. 'Now John!'

John looked down, the photo was there in his hand. Semila looked frightened, John decided to stay. 'I'm staying Sem, we beat him before,' he said.

Grimsol burst into the box and John's soul rocked. Semila moved John behind her, protecting him. 'It's different this time John, he's stronger.'

Grimsol smiled. 'Stronger, yes much stronger. I am invincible.' He jabbed his sword forward catching Semila in the shoulder, pure light burst out as she cried in pain.

The demon smiled 'That hurt didn't it,' he said.

Semila dove and rolled forwards, slicing upwards towards the demon's groin. He only just avoided the hit.

'That's the spirit bitch, go out fighting,' he laughed.

Semila jumped and spun, kicking the demon square in its mouth. It whirled back smashing of the wall of John's soul.

He regained his footing and wiped the yellow blood, then spat a tooth on the floor. 'That's it? That's all you got?' The demon laughed as he stalked towards the Angel. He rushed swinging the sword hard.

Semila ducked under the black sword and hip threw the demon into the wall again. This time he howled. Semila turned to John. 'Blink out right fucking now John!'

She turned in time to avoid being decapitated, but the sword edge caught her cheek. Again pure light spilled out.

Grimsol laughed as Semila backed up once again. 'Wondering what it is? The sword I mean. It's an angel killer, it feeds off your energy. You feel weaker don't you? Every time it hits it drains you, and I get stronger. He swung the sword in a lazy arc in front of him.

Semila backed off, sweat dripped off her brow.

The demon rushed forward pressing the Angel into a corner, he caught her again on the leg and again light poured out from the wound. Semila fell to the floor. The demon put his head back and roared in triumph. He turned to John and calmly walked over to the boy.

John couldn't stop him as he grabbed him by the throat. He twisted John's head to the side, as if inspecting an insect. 'You will watch her die now, you little fucking brat.'

John concentrated, remembering what Semila had said when they first met. Remembering how he got this monstrosity out of his soul the first time. The demon felt the pull, and backhanded John hard. 'No, I don't think so boy,' he said and picked John up by his hair. John screamed. Grimsol walked over to Semila and kicker her hard in the face, flipping her onto her back.

A chair appeared and John was unceremoniously shoved in it, ropes appeared and bound him tight. The demon turned and kicked Semila again, punting her up against the wall, she hit it hard and stopped moving.

Grimsol's sword disappeared as he walked back to John. 'She should have killed me when she had the chance.' John grimaced as the demons how fetid breath enveloped him. It put one twisted fingernail on John's forehead, drawing blood. 'You,' he said. 'After your next Blink, you will forget everything. You will forget me, your ability, this place and the filthy ragged Angel bleeding on the floor. You are only being kept alive in case we need of you.' He put the photo on John's lap.

John pulled is head back. 'Fuck you, you ugly bastard.' Grimsol smiled, then turned quick, sensing movement.

Semila stood behind him and brought down the dagger hard, directly into his spine. Grimsol fell to his knees and she lashed out catching one of his horns, sending it tumbling to the floor. Grimsol roared and punched out catching Semila full in the face, she staggered back again and fell on all fours. She spat out teeth and blood onto the floor.

Grimsol limped up behind her, blood oozed down his leg from the wound. The huge sword was now back in his hand. He pulled Sem's head back.

John's eyes met her beautiful ones and he found himself lost again.

'Any last words you want to say to John?' he said. A certain kind of madness entered his eyes.

'Fuck you.' Was all she said, and the demon slit her throat. John came to when Sem's eyes dulled and closed. Grimsol threw the body down, fell to his knees exhausted, and faded away. The chair also disappeared and John fell to the floor. He ran to Semila and picked up her lifeless body.

Tears streamed down his face, mingling with the blood now seeping onto his hands and clothes. 'Sem, come on man. Sem, wake up. Please Sem. I need you don't be dead. I need you.'

He buried his head in her hair and rocked back and forth, as if the movement would be comforting to her. He looked down at the floor. Semila had scratched something into his soul.

Remember Me.

John put her body down, grabbed the photo and Blinked out. In the still of the box, where a dead Angel lay, there was movement. Grimsol's horn started wriggling, it grew a face with nasty sharp teeth and set about eating at John's soul.

P.S.

Oh no! Even I am sad! What do you guys think?

© Steve Ford and Joy Cronjé 2018