Angels Without Hearts

Chapter 17

        We all made it back to James's cabin. Leo came down and helped heal everyone. Holly was laying on the living room floor. Leo was healing her face. Cody was in the guest bathroom taking a shower. James sat with me on the couch. His arms wrapped around me. My body was resting against his. Leo moved his hands away. Holly opened her eyes and touched her face. "This feels a lot better." She stood up. "Now I'm kicking Cody out of the shower before he uses up all the hot water." She left the room. 

Leo stood in front of the fireplace. He looked at us. "James, thank you for keeping my daughter safe. And for you guys killing David." James nodded. "I guess you falling in love with her was the best way to protect her." 

James shrugged. "Even if she didn't love me, I was still going to protect her." Leo only nodded. 

Cody came into the living room. His hair was wet. His shirt was soaked. "Someone threw me out of the shower." I hid my smile. I missed everything being normal once again. We didn't have to worry about David coming back ever again. James glanced down. My eyes went to his. "We lost Maddie in all this." 

Cody looked confused. "She died? How?"

"David. I watched him kill her. I tried to stop him. But he was done with her." My hands held my arms. 

James squeezed me. "It's not your fault Jess. You tried."

Leo nodded. "I don't think she was going to walk out of there alive. Even if you did manage to stop him." James kissed my cheek. Holly walked into the room. Her hair was up in a towel bun. Leo glanced at all of us. "You all have done a great job. The evil is contained for now. Everyone needs to work on their training exercises for the mean time." He smiled at us then disappeared before our eyes. Cody yawned and stretched his arms. "Thanks for letting us stay here just in case he comes back." Holly smacked him. 

I frowned at James. He held my hands. "It's just a precaution thing we always do once we defeat some high-powered evil." 

Holly smirked. "Mostly because Cody is afraid to be home alone." Cody shot her a dirty look. 

James stood up. "Okay kids, time for bed." Once we got up, Cody grabbed a blanket and pillow then laid on the couch. Holly grabbed my hand and snuck me into the guest room. We shut the door and locked it. We stood there and waited. Hands grabbed my sides. I screamed. Holly rolled her eyes. "Cheater." She mumbled.

James kissed my head. "Did you forget that we can go through walls and doors?" 

Cody busted in holding the bottom to a lamp. The shade was on his head. "Where's the danger?" I couldn't help but laugh. Holly didn't find it amusing. I pulled away from James. His eyes watched me intensely. "What time is it anyway?"

Holly checked her phone. "4:30 am." 

Cody's eyes widened. "Shit. I have practice at 8:30." He rushed out of the room. We could hear him tripping and falling over something. Holly yawned. "I could use some sleep. I can't remember the last time I slept longer than ten minutes." I hugged her. The entire time that she was gone, I wanted her back. She squeezed me. "It's okay. I'll be here when you wake up." She walked over to the bed. "Someone else might not be if he wakes me up." We chuckled as James led me through the wall and into his bedroom. The light was already off. My eyes grew heavy. I didn't realize how tired I was. Once we got into bed, James pulled me into his arms. His wings appeared and covered over us. My hands rested on his chest. His lips kissed my forehead. "What's wrong Jess? You're kind of quiet."

I took a breath, "I'm trying to get used to the fact that he's gone. After everything we've been through, its going to be peaceful now." He smiled as his fingers brushed against my cheek. His eyes looked down. "For now it will be."

       I kissed him. His hands pulled me closer as they grabbed my lower back. "Even if things go wrong again, you'll still be with me." His eyes met mine then nodded. "You have to promise me something." James was silent. "Promise me, if I die, you'll continue on."

James immediately sat up. His wings disappeared. His back was to me. Shaking his head, "I can't do that. If you die, I want to be with you."

My hand gently touched his back. "I want you to continue doing your angel stuff. And fighting evil off." James glanced back at me with sad eyes. "Please. Think of the people you could help in the future."

He took a breath. "Why do you sound like me?"

I smiled at him. "Because I know you. Please James." He didn't say another word, only nodded. He pulled me into his lap. Our eyes meeting. "You're not going anywhere anytime soon." He kissed me. My arms wrapped around his neck. I yawned again. James helped me back into bed. He cuddled up behind me as we both fell asleep.

       

       The sun blinded me when I woke up. Sitting up, James wasn't in bed anymore. It seemed too quiet. Pulling myself out of bed, I went into the hallway. There were two voices. I paused and listened.

"I'm telling you, this stuff is good." It was Holly's voice. I continued walking till I reached the doorway to the kitchen. James sat at the table, arms crossed. His face said it all, he didn't want Holly's cooking. She was holding a frying pan with pasta and white sauce. The cheese was crusted onto the pan. Holly smiled big. James smirked. "You take a bite, then I will eat some if it's any good."

Holly smirked. "Prepare to eat your own words!" She took a fork full and stuffed it into her mouth. She started chewing. Her face went from proud to what the hell did I eat? She raced over to the trash can and started spitting it out. James smiled as he looked over at me. I smiled back at him. He got up and walked over to me. He kissed my head as he slipped his arm around me. "Did you sleep okay?" I nodded.

    Soon as Holly regained herself, she glanced over at us. "You practically slept the whole day away." Glancing at the clock on the wall, it was 3:30 pm. My eyes widened. James squeezed my side. "It's okay. I just woke up about an hour ago myself." The front door flew open then shut. Someone raced down the hallway. Cody stood there, out of breath. He tried talking and using hand motions. Holly crossed her arms. "If this is another one of your pranks, I'll knock your lights out."

He shook his head. "No... he..." Leo appeared behind us. James gave him a serious look. "We need to talk." Cody closed his mouth. Cody and Holly went into the living room. James walked behind them. I went to follow him until Leo tugged on my arm. "Angel stuff. Can you wait in the bedroom?" I frowned and nodded. Then headed towards the bedroom. Closing the door behind me, I went and sat on the bed. Closing my eyes, "Leo asked me to wait in the bedroom." It was quiet for a few moments.

James's voice came into my mind. "Don't worry, I'm sure it's nothing. I'll come to you once we're done." His voice vanished. I grabbed my phone and started looking at social media. Our town page was constantly talking about the old mill burning down. How the building made us the town we were today, nothing very interesting. I kept scrolling until I saw the headliner, "Man saved from burning building then vanishes."

     My eyes were now glued to the screen. The reporter wrote this,

     Last night on May the 3rd at around midnight, smoke appeared from the tops of the trees. Firefighters rushed out there to save our famous piece of history. Unfortunately, the building was already gone at this point. Firefighters investigated the area claiming it was arson. What they didn't expect to find was a complete shocker. A man was found under the fallen burnt beams. He was paralyzed. An ambulance was rushed to the see and took the man to the hospital. Paramedics asked him a series of questions, but responded to none. Once they arrived on scene at the hospital, he spoke one sentence. 'They will pay for this.' One of the Paramedics went to fetch a doctor, but among returning, the man was gone.

      My heart sunk into my chest. I rushed to the door and swung it open. James stood there with sad eyes. Before I could speak, James cut me off. "He's alive."