Jessie and Raguel arrived home safely. Jessie was immediately pulled into a hug by Elena.

“Why did you leave?” Elena mumbled into her shoulder. “We were so worried about you,” Elena pulled back from the hug a little. “Never do that again.” 

Jessie didn’t expect the reaction she was getting from Elena. She didn’t know Elena cared so much about her well-being. It made her happy. “I’m sorry,” Jessie apologized.

“It's okay. Just promise you won't leave like that again.”

“I promise,” Jessie replied with a smile.  

“Good,” Elena pulled her back into the hug.  

Jessie was really happy she found comfort in the arms of the angels. Jessie looked at the faces of the angels standing in the living room. They looked relieved. She couldn't remember the last time somebody genuinely cared about her apart from her sister. A tear fell from her eyes. She held onto Elena tightly.

Elena pulled back from the hug after a minute. Jessie discreetly wiped the tears from her eyes. Elena took hold of Jessie's hand and led her to the couch. 

“I will go get Raphael so that he could heal your injuries,” Elena said. 

“I'm here,” Raphael announced before Elena could take a step out.

Raphael was at Jessie’s side. He placed his hand on her, and within seconds, her bruises were completely healed.

“Thank you,” Jessie whispered. 

“You are welcome,” Raphael replied. “We were so worried when you left, and we are glad you are back home,” he patted her back softly. 

“Do you want anything to eat?” Elena asked. 

Jessie shook her head. “I'm fine. I need to rest, but I will eat later,” she added whilst standing up. 

“Are you sure?” Elena inquired. 

“Yes,” Jessie said with a tiny smile on her face. “I will head to my room.”  

Elena nodded her head. 

Jessie walked out of the living room and left for her room. As soon as she entered the room, she dissolved into tears. 

 
                         ****

Michael had long dropped the little girl at her parent's house, but he had refused to go back home. He was angry at Jessie for running away. He still couldn't believe he had come close to losing her to the demons.

He ran his hand through his hair.  “I would have lost the one chance I had at finding love had the demons succeeded in taking her.” 

Michael paced around with such thoughts jogging through his mind. ‘I don't understand how I feel about Jessie, but I'm sure she's the one Anna was talking about,’ he thought to himself. 

A sigh escaped his lips. “I have to speak to Jessie.” 

Michael flashed his wings and soared back home. He didn't land at the front door of the house. Instead, he landed in Jessie's room.  Michael knew it was inappropriate to barge into Jessie's room unannounced. But he didn't care. His thoughts were all over the place. Michael knew Raguel would stop him from seeing Jessie, but he needed to see her. 

Michael watched Jessie raise her head to stare at him. They both stayed quiet for a while before Michael spoke, “Why did you run away? Do you know how worried I was when I found out you were the one in trouble? Your behaviour was very reckless, and you even left the house through the window,” he pointed at the window. “What if you had broken your legs? Do you know what would have happened to you had the demon captured you?” Michael yelled. “I thought you were smarter than this, but I guess I was wrong.” 

Michael knew he was too hard on Jessie, but he couldn't think clearly. His emotions were all over the place. The thought of losing Jessie before something could happen between them pained him.

Jessie stood up from the bed, looking angry at Michael. “You have no right to yell at me,” she muttered sternly. “I had a nightmare about my sister getting killed by demons, and I freaked out,” Jessie screamed. 

“You should have talked to me about it, or better still, talked to Elena, but no, you decided to run off," Michael replied.

Jessie averted her gaze from Michael. She wasn't used to talking to people about her problems. She had always resolved her issues alone, but for the first time, she wished she had shared her problems with someone.

Jessie turned to face Michael, who still looked angry. “I know what I did was stupid,” she took a deep breath. “I'm sorry,” Jessie whispered.

She didn't want to annoy Michael any more by exchanging heated words with him.

Michael shook his head. He was still angry at her. He took a step to the door, but Jessie rushed and placed her hand on his. Even though Michael felt a tingling sensation from Jessie's contact, he ignored it and removed Jessie's hand from his.

“Don't touch me right now, Jessie,” Michael said sternly. “I'm still angry at you.” 

“I'm sorry, Michael,” Jessie whispered. 

Michael didn't say anything. He opened the door and left. He heard a sob escape from Jessie's mouth, and his chest tightened at the sound of her cries. Not only that, he had the urge to go back into the room to comfort her, but he disregarded it and made his way downstairs.

When Michael reached downstairs, he noticed his family in the living room. He refused to meet anybody's eyes. He was aware they heard their raised voices. Michael silently sat down and closed his eyes with his fingers linked together. It didn't take long before he noticed Raguel's presence by his side.

Michael opened his eyes and stared at his friend. “I shouldn't have raised my voice on her.” 

“Yes,” Raguel agreed.  “That wasn't the way to handle the situation. But I do understand why you are angry. If Elena were to do something like that, I would also be mad at her. You are letting your feelings for Jessie get in the way. Jessie isn't your soulmate, Michael. Always remember that.” 

Michael sighed gently. He disregarded Raguel's words of Jessie not being his soulmate. “I messed up,” he shook his head. “I was angry, and I let my anger rule over my sense of reasoning. I should go and apologize to her.” 

“You will apologize later, but right now, I think she should stay alone. I'm simply happy we got to her on time.”  

“Me too,” Michael replied. ‘What would I have done if something had happened to her?’ he asked himself.

“Do you want to go out and get some fresh air?” Raguel asked.

“Yes,” Michael replied.

He needed to leave the house to clear his head. Michael and Raguel headed for the front door. They flashed their wings and soared high in the sky. A few minutes later, they landed and started taking walks in silence, but Michael's thoughts continued drifting back to Jessie.

‘I will apologize to her when I get home,’ he thought to himself. “Raguel, do you think...” Michael trailed off and looked at Raguel, who had stopped walking.

Raguel turned to look at Michael, and Michael knew why he had stopped walking.

“Demons,” they said in unison.

Michael and Raguel discreetly followed the scent of the demons. They were careful not to alert the demons of their presence. 

“I see them,” Michael whispered, pointing in their direction.

Raguel nodded his head when he also caught the sight of the demons. Before they could get the opportunity to charge at the demons, the demons, all of a sudden, turned their attention to them. They stared at the angels with widened eyes. Within seconds, they started disappearing. Michael and Raguel acted fast and were able to get hold of one of the demons. 

“Let me go,” the demon said, struggling against them.

“Tell us where the little girl is whom you took?” Michael demanded.

“I won't say anything,” the demon yelled, still struggling.

Michael shook his head and hit the demon hard on the head, knocking him unconscious.  

“Why did you do that?” Raguel asked.

“It's obvious this demon isn't going to give us the answer we seek. I think it's better we take him home. Perhaps, Grey can help us get a confession out of him.” 

“Yes, you are right,” Raguel agreed.

“Let's go home,” Michael said as he picked the demon off the ground. He flashed his wings, and they left for their home.

                         ****

Jessie heard a knock on her door, which brought her out of her thoughts. “Come in,” she said. 

Elena entered the room and shut the door behind her. “Are you okay?” Elena asked. 

“No,” Jessie answered honestly. “But I will be fine,” she added. 

Elena nodded her head. She moved closer to Jessie and gave her a little squeeze on the shoulder.  “Do you want me to bring your dinner up here, or will you prefer to join us downstairs?” 

“I will prefer to eat here,” Jessie said.

“Okay, I will bring your meal here.”

“Thank you.” 

Elena smiled at her and left the room. The food was later delivered to her room. She ate her food quietly, and when she was done, she went to the bathroom, taking a swift bath. Jessie settled under the covers and drifted off to sleep.

                       ***

Michael and Raguel arrived home with the demon. As soon as they stepped into the house, all the angels in the living room stood up.

“Why do you have a demon with you?” Raphael asked. 

“We want to interrogate this demon. We are certain he can tell us about the whereabouts of Jessie's sister,” Michael said. 

Raphael looked at Raguel, who nodded his head at his father.

“Okay,” Raphael said.

“I will take the demon to the basement,” Michael announced.

After Michael dropped the demon in the basement, he returned to the living room and found it empty. 

‘I guess everyone has retired to their bedrooms,’ he thought in his mind.

Michael quietly made his way upstairs. He wanted to check on Jessie. He felt a little unnerved. Furthermore, he needed to be sure she was in her room.  Michael heard a noise coming from Jessie's room. His heart rate sped at the thought of Jessie being in trouble. He quickly opened the door.  But what he saw didn't stop his racing heart. Jessie's hand was tightened on the bed sheet. She had her eyes closed tightly, and sweat was dripping down her face. She was mumbling things.

“She is having a nightmare,” Michael murmured. He immediately went to her side. “Wake up, Jessie,” he whispered.

But that didn't get Jessie to wake up. Michael had to shake her a little, which made Jessie jolt up and knock Michael down. He quickly stood up from the floor and sat next to Jessie.

“Michael,” Jessie whispered when she noticed his presence. 

Michael smiled at her. Jessie pulled him into a hug. Michael was a little resistant for a few seconds, but after then, he wrapped his arms around her.  

“I'm sorry,” Jessie mumbled.

“It's okay, Jessie. Just go back to sleep,” Michael said.

“Please stay with me,” Jessie murmured. She gave Michael a soft look. She really hoped Michael wouldn't decline her offer. She felt vulnerable, and she really needed him by her side.

Michael ran his hands through his hair. To be honest, he truly wanted to stay with Jessie. He didn't want to leave her when she was having trouble sleeping. So, he didn't hesitate to nod his head to her request. 

Jessie lowered her back down on the mattress, and Michael did the same. He pulled her closer and wrapped his arms around her. He watched Jessie close her eyes and drift off to sleep.