Azrael

Chapter II

It has been a week since I moved in with Marcus. On the second day of living here, I made the mistake of trying to start a conversation with Azrael which went something like this:

"Hey Azrael!"
"—"
"So I was wondering, do you like any sports?"
"—"
"What about hobbies?"
"—"

After that conversation - can I really call it a conversation if he didn't speak? - I decided to avoid him at all costs. Which I have done. I have not seen Azrael in at least 2 days. That might also be because he hasn't been home in 2 days. But who's counting?

On the other hand, Marcus and I have spent hours together playing video games and watching movies this week which has strengthened our friendship and shown me his competitive side which includes tackling me whenever I would be winning any games and scaring me around the house after I would win. Of course I won most games because I'm superior and I had to endure his competitive side a lot.

Today, I've been working at the shop all day and Marcus left to visit his friends up in New York for a few days. Which means I'm going to be alone in the house. With Azrael. Yippee! I can't wait. Cue the eye-roll and note the sarcasm.

"Eyes over here waitress, unless you want me to report you to your boss for not working," a familiar voice declared sassily, clicking her fingers in front of my face. Jada? Jada!

I turned to Jada and raised my eyebrow, as we engaged in a staredown. And I cracked. A massive smile stretched across my face as I took her in for the first time in 9 months. Her brown locks were tied in a messy bun, her cheeks a deep red from the winter cold, and her honey-brown eyes were slits as she grinned from ear to ear, running behind the counter to tackle me in a bear hug.

I held onto her and I was overcome with joy and bliss. Her vanilla perfume surrounded us. Jada and I went to highschool together where we were known for being the inseparable duo. We have been there for each other since seventh grade. Through rain and shine. But why was she here now when she was in the middle of studying for her masters in fashion?

"I heard about your apartment Lydia" Jada uttered sympathetically, pulling out of the embrace and grasping my hand softly with her cold one.

"Thanks Ja- wait... I never told you about the apartment," I replied, confused with how she could have found out, but grateful that she was here with me.

"Well..." she started sheepishly, curling a stray lock of hair around her finger, "I may have been stalking your location on snap... and I saw that you weren't at your house for a few days... so I did some digging online and I found an article about the fire."

Wow, someone was mean enough to post about my burnt apartment online. What a douche.

"Ok miss detective I see," I laughed at her embarrassed expression. It was priceless.

"So," Jada continued, changing the subject, "if you're apartment is a done deal, where are you staying?"

A glint of excitement shone in her eyes as she awaited my answer, almost as though she already knew. I wouldn't be surprised if she did know, with her advanced stalking skills.

"I'm staying with Marcus and his brother at the moment," I responded, mumbling as I mentioned Azrael.

"And who?" Jada questioned suspiciously, raising her eyebrows slightly after I let out an irritated sigh at her question.

"His brother, Azrael," I murmured, annoyed about having to mention his existence.

"It's not obvious or anything, but I get the slightest impression that you don't like him much," she giggled, winking at me.

"I hate him Jada, he's an ass and he's been nothing but rude and cold to me since I got there," I admitted, relieved to finally talk to someone about him.

"Aw babes, don't stress about it. You know what they say, 'If they hate hard, they can love harder'."

"Jada, I've never heard anyone say that before and it doesn't even make sense."

"Yeah, that's because I just made it up," Jada grinned and then looked down at her phone. She frowned as she saw the time and looked back up remorsefully. "Lydia, I have to meet with my dad in 10 minutes down by the mall, but I'll be back as soon as I can, probably in a few hours?"

"Of course Jay, you have no idea how happy I am that you're here!" I exclaimed, giving Jada a small squeeze as she agreed with me. I watched contentedly as she rounded the counter and left the small cafe.

•••

I had been serving different people all day and as much as I loved the interactions, I was exhausted and desperately wanted to go home. I wish I could drive but Marcus had taken the car with him and my car stopped working last summer so walking will have to suffice. At least I'll get some exercise.

As I stood behind the counter, watching the sun set behind the large oak trees outside the cafe, a man in a full black suit strolled into the shop with a slight frown on his face. His face had a scar that stretched across his cheekbone, and a tattoo peaked out from beneath his shirt which said sangue. Whatever that meant. The man scanned the cafe, and as his eyes landed on me, he smirked slightly and left.

Confused, I watched the man leave, and I couldn't shake the horrible feeling that he had only come here looking for me.

•••

The small key in my hand jingled slightly whilst I locked up the cafe and I began the 20 minute walk home. The streets were eerily quiet, the only sound coming from the occasional owl in the trees that lined the sidewalk. The streetlights flickered along the road, illuminating the street with a dull orange light. Goosebumps littered my arms as the chilly air met with my skin, even through the thick sweater I had on.

My feet halted, and quiet footsteps continued behind me before stopping. Turning around to see who was behind me, my eyes met with the same scarred face that had come to the coffee shop earlier.

My breath caught in my throat as he placed the blade of a knife roughly against my throat. Why is he holding a knife against me? Is this about that one time where I honked at an old man crossing the road because he was too slow? It can't possibly be. Can it?

"Make a sound, and it'll be the last you make," his gruff voice whispered harshly in my ear, dragging me to a nearby alley. I couldn't make out anything around me in the darkness of the alley. The smell of rotting animals flooded my nose and it took everything in me not to throw up right there.

The man kept dragging me until we reached a door to a worn out building. Outside the building, the panels of rotten wood were splintered and cracked, nails sticking out at weird angles.

If he takes me to a basement I'm so dead, I've watched enough horror movies.

Pushing aside my helpful thoughts that were going to help me escape, not, I threw my leg back and kicked him right where it hurts most. But apparently most is nothing to him, and he punched me in the face, knocking me flying onto the jagged ground. I felt a hot pain rush to my cheek and my vision blurred slightly, warping the man into a three headed donkey.

I felt my head begin to spin and blackness encompassed my vision. The last thing I saw was the man picking me up, before I passed out.

A/N: Ok I love the suspense in this chapter and the cliff hanger!! Give your best guesses on what happens to Lydia :))

What do you guys think of Jada?? I love her sm honestly.

Also be prepared for Azrael next chapter heheh

Please vote and comment if you can xx

-T <3