Chapter 23

Do you guys remember Peter's words of wisdom? Embrace the freedom, leave the house, and don't be scared. Let me repeat that for those in the back: he said don't be scared.

Well... how the fuck was I supposed to be all 'cool and whatever man' when I'm home alone, cooking tacos, and a tumble and commotion thundered from upstairs?!

My eyes grew on the taco meat. The stomps and movement above me were followed by a muffled grunt and more struggling! What the fuck was that? Who the fuck was that? Nobody was home! Nobody should be upstairs. It stopped and was silent, but there's no fooling me. That was loud enough to send a cold disturbing chill up my back.

Stepping away from the stove, I peeked around the corner to the side of the staircase. Aside from the pattering rain, the air was silent and the source didn't come downstairs into sight either. But I wasn't going to wait until it did! Whether demons or not, I wasn't stick around and chance it!

Clad in just shorts and a tee, I shut off the burner, ran to the sliding door, threw it open, and ran out onto the deck. A loud thump and fuss behind me made whip my head back, and I skidded to a stop. Through the open door next to the dining table, two men were grappling on the floor! Oh my god! Jamie was over him, pinning him while landing a punch to the man's face.

Rain pelting down, I watched in horror. I was flustered, and didn't know what to do! I wanted to help, but that thought was pointless. The man maneuvered away, got to his feet, and charged towards the deck after me! Under the gloomy sky, I sprinted into the yard, but the chase was short lived when I heard both men grunt. Jamie tackled the hulking man, forcing his chest and face to the wet wood deck! Then, Jamie's hand flew to his side before he arched back... and slammed what looked like a blade into the back of his neck.

Despite the rain and being several yards from the deck, the image was vivid enough. I sucked in a sharp breath while watching the man take his last. He stopped struggling... and became still under Jamie's weight. Lifeless... just like that girl became lifeless. The sight of the man's limp body made the girl's body flash before me. The one that was over me, choking me, then went limp from her neck getting snapped. This wasn't as close of a call like that was... but my insides still dropped. I could only stare and permanently stain my brain.

It happened as quickly as it ended. Though I realized I was safe now, I didn't realize I hadn't been safe a moment ago. Something literally entered my house to kill me. That dead body on my deck could have been me. And though I didn't get hurt or touched... this was far more disturbing and unsettling. I wasn't even safe in my own home anymore.

Peter told me to get out of the house, keep living life, and don't let this fear control me. However, you guys know I don't like to listen to him. While I agreed with him and put my fear aside, I was still shook up and shocked over everything. I needed more time to myself, so I remained in the house these past few days since I spoke with him. It wasn't just a safe place, but one to hide from everything and all these problems. Not anymore though. That false sense of safety was entirely gone.

Rushing over through the rain, Jamie grabbed my shoulders and searched my eyes. He was quick to make sure I was okay. He was quick to reassure me I was safe now. He was also quick to block the body from sight and lay his jacket over it – for any potential witness's sake and mine. Jamie sweetly guided me inside. He grabbed us each a towel after finding where they were stored (since I was too shocked to do it myself), and we dried off in the kitchen. Well, he dried off. I could only stand there and drip.

"Jos, trust me, everything is fine now. You're safe."

My eyes were stuck on the pooling rainwater dripping down my legs. "No, I'm not."

"Yes, you are. You're safe now."

"He was inside my house." I had to bite my tongue. Pull it together.

Jamie grabbed my towel, helped me dry off, then wrapped it around me. That's when I noted the long red splotch along his cheek. It stretched to the side of his face and had a few dots of blood. "Your face," I whispered.

"I'll be fine," he said lightly.

"No, let me grab something for you, that looks painful."

"Trust me, Jos. I heal so rapidly, you will be in awe of me by the time I leave tonight," he teased before his smile straightened. "I'm more worried about you. I'm sorry you had to see that. Usually, we're able to snag them before they get that close."

"Why couldn't you then? Can't you sense them long before they get that close?"

"Well, unlike my dad, I can't sense demons. Not to the degree he can anyway. I'm not a bird like him either, so bolting through your second story window delayed me a tad."

It was so strange hearing him reference Peter as his dad. Then again, all of it was strange coming from him. I haven't seen Jamie since I learned everything. I refused to; I truly felt betrayed and embarrassed. Emotions aside though, after learning the truth (and having just witnessed him kill a demon), my view of him obviously changed from. Like Peter, there was so much more to him.

Speaking of daddy-o himself....

As we were drying off, the sliding door opened and a soaked Peter stepped inside. What was he doing here? His clothes clung to his body, and his blonde hair was darker from the rain it was now shedding down his body. He rounded the dining table and walked past me to the sink. As if this was his fucking house. As if it was okay to drip all over and track in with muddy fucking shoes. Hell, as if he's ever set foot in this house before!

"Oh yes, come right on in! Thanks for fucking knocking," I sneered.

"You can thank me for removing the dead body from your deck," he sighed, washing his hands. Or rather washing blood from his hands.

Swallowing, I cringed at the sight. "You got rid of the body? That fast?" We came inside no more than five minutes ago.

"It's almost like I have wings and am exceptionally fast."

"Not sure about that one. You're late to the party."

Shutting the sink off, he looked around – until he saw my bath towel and stole it from my hands to dry his own. "You're lucky I came at all. It wasn't my party to crash." Glancing to Jamie, his voice hardened. "That was a close call."

"What do you want from me? He stayed out of sight and far enough away from me."

Peter pursed his lips before tossing the towel back to me. I let it fall to the floor though; I didn't want any second-hand dead-body germs. Then, Peter gave me and my damp body an observant once-over. It was fast and nonchalant, as if he didn't want to seem concerned over my physical well-being. God forbid anyone sees that he actually cares.

Pushing back my messy wet hair, I turned to Peter. "Why do demons look so human? It bothers me that they look like people," I mumbled, shaking my head. "And why can they die but you can't?

The jerk twisted and rang out the rainwater from his shirt to the kitchen floor. "Because they take over human bodies whereas this is my natural form. They use people like vehicles; they can jump in and have control."

Well guys... this was a perfect example of why I stopped asking questions. I could only handle so many spoonfuls of shock at a time. "You... you mean they possess people?"

"Somewhat. The body they enter will become stronger, and adopt some of the demon's qualities. But they are still inside something human."

My eyes grew with dread. "That girl that tried strangling me, and that guy tonight... they were real people taken over?" It was as bad as it looked then. There were innocent people in there with no control.

"Yes, but those people were likely soul-sellers." He sighed. Looking to the ground, his jaw tightened and... and he couldn't speak. There was even a flash of emotion behind his stern expression. This seemed to especially bother him for some reason. "Um. Basically...."

Jamie could see his struggle. He knew what I didn't know, so he jumped in. "Basically, there are many types of deals and contracts that Hell offers. It all depends on what people desire. Hell can deliver... but it comes at a price." Now, Jamie had to pause for a moment. "Some deals can result in a human allowing their body to be used by demons."

"What would make people do something like that?"

They shared a knowing look. Peter was quick to answer and move on. "Many things. Anyway, since demons can't naturally live on this plane, they need a body if they plan on doing anything substantial here. So it's the price people pay, but demons are how many contracts are carried out too."

"What do you mean?"

Peter groaned, over it. While he was impatient, I did understand. I would get annoyed explaining all the details of my realty too. "There are endless reasons for a demon to come here. Here's a good example. Let's say businessman Famine finds a naïve man who is angry at the world. He's going to propose fixing his problems and will strike a deal with this man. Maybe the man wants someone dead, or maybe he wants a place robbed, or simply wants a better paying job. Hell will deliver on their end, but it means having demons do the dirty work. So, they get summoned and drive off in whatever 'vehicle' is available. Believe me, there are always many."

While this scenario was just an example, it outlined the bigger picture of how it worked – and it was as unbelievable as everything else I learned. Seriously, I just stared at him with my jaw unhinged. "That... is so fucking crazy," I shook my head. "So they take over people order to keep their end of the deal. What happens when their 'vehicle' dies? That body is dead, so the person it belonged to dies as well, right? Like the guy tonight?"

Jamie spoke up. "The demon doesn't really die. When I stabbed him tonight, the demon inside was banished, but yes, what's left is just a dead body."

"A dead body of a man who didn't have control over it though," I reminded sternly.

"Don't have sympathy," Peter said. "He willingly gave up his body – and he knew the risks. Honestly, demons don't often give the body back if the person's soul is bound for Hell anyway. Why give it back when they can just jump off a bridge, kill their client, and collect early?" he said with disdain.

"That's..." I scoffed. It was so hard wrapping my head around any of that. "That's insane. That's out of this world. I don't understand how that all can work, how—"

"You don't need to. It is more complicated, and I don't have the patience for another four-hour lesson. Just know demons were given permission by those people." With a sigh, Peter walked back to the sliding door. "Since you didn't listen last time, I think you now learned that staying inside doesn't help keep you safe."

"I stayed home because I needed time, not because I'm scared."

"I disposed of the body, so I'm off."

I narrowed my eyes. "Next time, try knocking."

Grabbing the handle, he shot me a raised brow. "Next time, try locking your doors then."

"They were locked until I needed to run my ass outside!"

He was gone before I finished. Ugh, I could slap him sometimes! While I was visibly frustrated, Jamie seemed curious. "I'm sorry about him."

"He's just so fucking weird and annoying," I groaned.

"He's usually not that bad."

"He is always that bad, Jamie. But at least he's real and upfront," I couldn't help but say.

"Listen, I wasn't putting on an act. I'm as stupid and quirky as you've already seen." He paused. "I know I'm probably not welcome, but I can help you clean up a bit. There's water all over the floor and your room is a mess. I mean, your room was already messy, but it's worse now."

Last time I saw him, I had learned he tricked me into a friendship and stormed out. I was still angry about it, but searching his sweet deep blue eyes... it was hard to be stubborn. He still was right. He was the same goofball as before. Just because I was tricked into a friendship doesn't mean it didn't grow into a real one I suppose.

"Did anything break while you were fighting demon homeboy in my room?" I finally asked.

"I'm not sure, but if it did, it was his fault, not mine."

"Then let's go check it out," I chuckled. "First, just let me go to the bathroom."

Off the kitchen was a small hall to a closet and a bathroom. I remained calm and collected this whole time – and truly, it helped greatly knowing Jamie was here and acting calm himself. But just because a new world was dropped into my lap didn't mean I was absent from my world and my emotions. I went into the bathroom, shut the door, and quietly buried my head into my hands.

Not wanting Jamie to hear, I silently cried for a few minutes. My stomach started trembling in a sob I wanted to release, but I didn't allow it. For how well I've accepted everything and rolled with it, my heart and mind paid the price. And having someone come into my house to kill me... it was so scary. Yes, Jamie stopped him, but it still happened! How was I supposed to feel safe here? Safe anywhere? Peter reassured me they would protect me and that all is fine, but my god... I just felt so vulnerable. Would I even make it out of this alive?

I took a few more minutes to myself before wiping my tears away and washing my face. I needed to be strong. I needed to get through this because there was no other choice. Thankfully though, Jamie helped me feel better after I left the bathroom.

***

Clutter from my dresser had been knocked to the floor. My bed was uneven, and water was pooled on the ground in front of the wide-open window. Other than that though, it wasn't in bad shape. Liz's beautiful and newer furniture didn't get scratched either. Amen. We all know that was the most important take-away tonight.

The tacos weren't too shabby either. Jamie deserved all the credit for that – and for making me feel better. Not only did I feel safe with him here, but his easy-going mood and relaxed tall frame helped tremendously. I was also happy he took the reins on dinner. He was much more sophisticated with food than me.

After he finished the taco meat, he scouted the fridge. "What else did you plan to have for Taco-Wednesday?"

"Nothing. I only planned on having tacos."

"Ah...."

"You got a problem with that?"

"I sure fucking do. I'm a chef at heart, Jos. You have any avocado?"

"Jesus."

Being out of avocado (as if we had any before) didn't stop him from adding a few spices and veggies to the beef. Despite it being only the two of us, he found the stuff to whip together a small taco salad too. Yeah. Overachiever over here had to make the most out of my boring dinner.

"You really take food seriously, don't you?" I chuckled as we made our plates.

"Someone needs to. I now saved your life twice tonight."

"Twice?"

"If you ate that bland-ass taco meat, you would have died instantly."

"You're starting to sound like David."

"You're prissy neighbor? Nah. I just like to cook."

"It just takes so much time and effort to go all out, you know? That's probably the only thing your brother and I have in common." I caught my mistake and sighed deeply. "Sorry, I mean your dad."

"Yeah, he does not have the patience for cooking."

"He did that one night," I mumbled, sitting down at the table with my plate. "Then again, I'm sure there was a reason he invited me over for dinner."

Jamie sat adjacent to me at the table. "He said he wanted to attempt to read you again. But for him to go out of his way to cook, it doesn't seem like him," he chuckled.

It was strange before... but that reason was weirder. "That's why? He asked me to dinner to try and read me again?"

"That's what he said," he shrugged, taking a bite.

Sounded like an excuse. Not once during that awkward dinner did he take my hand. Then again, maybe he just didn't get the chance since we were interrupted. One thing I knew for sure though: Jamie's tacos definitely rivaled Peter's steak from that night.

His detail in cooking reminded me of how complex he was. There was so much to him – and so much to learn. This was also the first time he could be fully honest now. Which was great, but I needed to prepare myself. Again, there was a reason I stopped asking questions. I needed to ease in lightly.

"Remember when you first sought me out? You came over to apologize for Peter being a dick?"

"Yeah."

"So that was just an excuse to talk to me? Since you were trying to get close to me?"

That day, I happen to be driving behind Peter when a deer jumped in front of him, causing me to hit his car and dent his bumper. I remember how pissed Peter was. I remember he blamed me for being a bad driver. I remember Jamie coming over and apologizing for Peter's behavior later that day. It felt like a natural chain of events... but now knowing their motives, it couldn't all be a coincidence.

"Can we jump to a different question? This is going to piss you off," he laughed.

"Now you are definitely answering this question."

"Fine. Just remember I saved your skin tonight," he grinned, as if excited to be the one to light off what would probably be a few angry fireworks. "We couldn't just openly follow you; it needed it to all seem coincidental. Like that little car accident. It didn't look staged, but it was," he laughed.

"Even that wasn't a coincidence?" I paused in thought. "But... I'm the one that hit his bumper."

"He could sense there were a ton of deer around that road...."

My eyes grew. Yep, that lit a firework off in me! "Are you fucking with me?! He bitched me out and blamed it all on me?!

"We got what we needed though," he smiled and shrugged innocently. "You had to exchange information; we got your name, addresses, age, where you moved here from. It helped us look into you."

"Ever heard of the internet? Or just asking nicely?"

"The accident also gave me an excuse to seek you out."

"The accident caused my fucking car insurance to go up, bitch," I said pointedly.

Cocking his head back, he let out a heaty laugh.

That throaty laugh and his sense of humor... it was so easy to forget he wasn't human. Until we spoke about things like this. Until I learned our seemingly natural encounters were perfectly planned out. I reminded me I wasn't divine like them.

It was still shocking, knowing they weren't human. They looked human, they had emotions (Jamie did anyway), and spoke like real people. Well, they were real people, just... different.

I studied his square jaw, the light stubble along it that ran up towards his ears. I took in how it matched the color of his wavy brown hair, which was just lengthy enough for him to tie back. I watched his features, his eyes, his lean and lengthy strong form that was relaxed in the dining chair. Laugh fading, he hovered the plate under his chin, and took another bite of his taco – only to lose half the insides. For being such a good cook, this dude sure was messy.

"It's hard to remember you aren't human."

"Oh, I'm as human as they come. The half of me that is human anyway," he defended, finishing his dilapidated taco. "Ever heard of a Nephilim?"

"Nope."

"That's what I am. Nephilim are half human and half angels. I age just like you. I will die old just like you. I do have some of my father in me, it's just... dialed back. I can read people, but I can't erase memories. I can sense things, but not as precisely as him. There are some things I can't do at all though. I can't make people fall asleep. I wish I could because damn, do I have some sleep problems! I would love to knock myself out every night," he laughed.

For how mysterious these two men were... I found them incredibly intriguing. Especially what his words seemed to imply. "Since you are Peter's son... does that mean his wife is your mom?"

"That's right."

"And... you are half human."

Not sure why, but this shift made him a little tense. He simply nodded. "Exactly. She was human."

Was. Does that mean something happened to her? I always wondered about Peter's wife. He was married; he wore a ring and never denied he was married when I mentioned it. I wasn't surprised she was no longer around. I never saw her and they never mentioned her – and I knew there was a reason. What did surprise me was the fact that this asshole fallen angel... married a human. That he had a son with a human. I should have obviously put the pieces together earlier, but the thought of Peter being married, and to someone that ages, it was crazy.

"Where is she?"

He pursed his lips and spoke simply. "She's just gone. She's been gone most of my life now." I couldn't tell if that was a good or bad thing from his tone. "Anyway, like I said, because I'm part human, my abilities are dimmed. But Nephilim are known to be tall, strong, and fast though. So if I got into a fist fight with my dad, it would still be close," he chuckled.

"So, you have half-ass abilities, but are physically stronger?" I teased.

"Exactly," he smirked, sipping at his drink. "The major difference is I don't live forever."

That last part... was such a heavy prospect when you really think about it. One I truly could not imagine. Someday, Jamie will surpass his dad's physical age. He will pass away before his dad.

I folded my arms on the table and met his gaze. "Honestly, I wouldn't be jealous of that."

He looked away. "I'm not jealous of my dad. It may sound like the ultimate dream, but living forever would be torture. It is for him."

The pattering rain weighed the silence between us. "Is that what makes him so bitter? The fact that he has to watch you get older while he stays the same?"

He took a long second to answer. And in that second... there was so much he was choosing not to say. "That's... part of the reason he's bitter. I'm the only thing he has left – and he is fully aware that I will be gone one day. He's not that selfish though. He doesn't care how difficult it is for him. If anything, he is bitter about the past." Jamie pursed his lips, sitting up straighter. "He's just.... He been through so much."

I've asked about Peter before. Like before, we hit the same sensitive wall. Something happened to them. Something that scarred them both to where it was difficult to even near the subject. I had a feeling we neared some dark waters earlier in the conversation. Maybe it had to do with Peter's absent wife.... Or something with a deal; they both seemed uncomfortable about that. Then again, making deals with the devil isn't the most pleasant topic.

"It sounds like you both have been through a lot," I whispered.

He smiled tightly. "You could say that."

"I'm sorry, I'm not going to pry."

He nodded in thought. "Just know I'm not jealous. I am grateful that I don't have to live forever. If I'm jealous of anything, it's of regular people. Being fast, being powerful, knowing the truth of life... it's hard to handle. I'm sure you're learning that."

He was right. I was learning that. His intricate gaze was a vulnerable shade of blue. It's only been a few days, but with every revelation, every near-death encounter... it made me miss my oblivious and normal life. I thought I had problems before, but I should have been more grateful for the problems I didn't have. Like staying alive.

It was my turn to glance away. "The grass is always greener, right?"

"Unfortunately."

"So are you guys alone? Do you have any family or friends like you?"

"We have contacts. Friends from past assignments, but we don't see them often. This world is full of people like us. But we're kind of... outcasts."

"Outcasts?"

"Fallen angels... they have a tight knit community and a code to follow. There are laws and certain expectations – both were hard to adhere to. We are still involved, just looked down on. So, on a regular basis anyway, it's just us."

"That sounds lonely."

Jamie became more fidgety. His laid-back demeanor was his armor, and he wasn't used to shedding it. "It's incredibly lonely. We can't tell anyone anything. He tried giving me a normal life growing up, but there was always part of me I needed to hide."

"You always had to keep your mouth shut," I nodded quietly. "That would be terrible. Especially when you get close to someone."

"Don't get me wrong. There are people we talk to that know about us. They just aren't around and not people we get to see often. Like I said, we are alone much of the time. That's why I feel selfishly grateful you moved here. You have no idea how relieving it is to not hide anything with you."

It had to be so unsettling, not being able to share who you are. I've only been in the same boat for a couple days. I couldn't share what I learned or what I was going through with anyone. It's not like I could tell Liz any of this. And to keep something this massive from everyone I know... that would be a huge weight for the rest of my life. I couldn't even imagine how hard it was for Jamie.

"Being each other's therapist will be worth a totaled car and a bunch of murderous demons."

"Absolutely," he chuckled.

Despite making light of the situation, he shifted his chair to face me directly. "Listen... everything is going to be okay."

"Yeah, I know."

"No. Really," he stressed. "We will protect you."

His words sank in more. The reminder of how dire this situation was triggered a few tears to spill. I nodded, looking away and quickly wiping my eyes. "That's my problem. I don't like feeling helpless. I don't like to rely on anyone," I said to the floor.

"I know how you feel. But it has to happen and will be worth it to have us protecting you. Especially since you'll get to see my pretty face a lot more," he added with a smirk. "That's going to add a whole new meaning to your life."

"So worth it," I snorted, glancing back up to him. That's when I noticed something. When did that red mark fade away? He said he healed quickly, but it was startling how it already shrank. I didn't even notice until now. "Damn. You really do heal fast."  

"See? I wow and amaze you when I'm around," he said, offering me a playful pretty smile. One that stayed as he searched my eyes.

I didn't like feeling this way... but it's not like I had a choice. I couldn't defend myself against demons. And while he was just being cocky and joking... that fun side of him may be worth having him around. For how supportive and sweet he was, maybe I wouldn't mind that at all. Maybe it's not the worst thing it the world to depend and trust someone other than myself too. 

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Let me know your thoughts! Thanks and I hope you liked this one!

And please tell me: is this too much information being dropped? I know it all already, so if this is too much or if it's easy to retain, I would love to know. Thanks!