Angel Phyre: Nevaeh

Chapter 10 - Angel

I couldn't believe it when Dad came home with the detective chick. It was starting to seem like Dan had a pretty eclectic range in girls, but who am I to judge? I guess I'm a perfect addition to the line-up: Psychic, P.I., Nephilim. Yeah, I looked it up, and it took me to the Bible, no less. 'Technical,' or scriptural term at least, for the offspring of an angel and a human. But they were supposedly kinda monstrous. I guess when you have a surrogate involved; Mom's eggs taking Dad's jumbled-up sperm – we don't turn out so bad! Huh, I guess I'm not beating around the bush with this anymore. Still, yuk! I wish I hadn't thought of that.

Anyway – Chelsea Wade! Sierra's 'ol-pal-turned-private-eye, according to her. And my 'ol man himself stumbling across another grisly murder – that she gets called out to! Everything seemed like it was getting all woven together in a well-connected little web. Me and Dan; Dan, Sierra, and Chelsea; Chelsea and Dad. Well, a little 'grand design' sure couldn't hurt when you're hunting down a demon. I seem to remember some book series where Nephilim people did that. I guess that was me now, go figure!

"Nice to meet you, Chelsea," I said, shaking hands.

"Pleasure," she returned. "I've been hoping to meet you since I heard about you," she went on.

"How's come?" I questioned, feeling a little weirded out by that.

"Well, your story's got an interesting build, like a good case, y'know? Sierra told me about Dan's NDE involving you; then revealed how she helped you portal to find yours – and this guy's angel," she finished, pressing into Dad with her arm. "Lastly, and the reason I'm getting involved with all this, you letting a demon out through her portal."

"I didn't 'let it out,'" I flushed. "It was around me, got past me, I don't know. I've never been through an 'astral portal' before, just like I've never crossed someone over in an NDE either!"

"You're sure getting a crash course, girl," Chels answered. "I'm sorry, I didn't put that very well. I wasn't blaming you. Hell, I'm not even completely convinced of the 'escaped demon' story in the first place. Although the evidence is definitely mounting."

"Believe what you want," I said, sitting down, starting to feel a little overwhelmed. Dad moved Chelsea aside on his way over to sit with me, to try and comfort. "So, why you here?" I said, a little snarky, as Dad put his arm around me.

"She just wanted to meet you was all," said Dad, to her defense.

"Yeah, what he said," Chelsea echoed, feeling the need to speak for herself. "I was intrigued with your story, like I said; and there I was, plopped right into a crime scene your dad calls in! What better opportunity was I going to have?"

"Not a better one, I suppose," I answered. "Okay then, tell me something. You say you're starting to lean toward believing about the demon thing. Think you could use your detective skills to help us find it? Get it? Kill it? Me n' Sierra agreed, we gotta stop it." Dad visibly recoiled at that, with a big 'ol sigh. This would be the last of his intentions in her coming here – me vying for a team-up to hunt the demon!

"Okay, ladies," he began, getting up and going to Chels, "I think that's about enough of this; time to get you back on your way – maybe helping the cops with these cases. No team-up happening here!"

As he turned her away from me, starting to usher her out the door, I looked at her squarely, as she glanced back at me. Call me, I mouthed, holding my hand up to my ear in the phone sign. She nodded. I knew she didn't have my number, but Dan and Sierra did – she'd be able to get it easily enough. I gotta confess, I wasn't too sure about her to begin with, but considering her skill set, why not look to her for some help. God knows we'd need it against a demon. Assuming she did decide to buy into that theory.

Either way, wherever she landed on it, I decided right then and there, to call Sierra immediately to update her on this. What with Dad gone, exiting Chelsea stage left, I wasn't going to have a better time for privacy to the subject than now. I felt an inkling to talk to Dan too; but business first, personal second. Huh. Guess I was starting to feel something for him. Great. Older guy – something else for Dad to feel like he's gotta protect me from. Funny, I'm the 'guardian angel' in-the-making, and he's feeling like he has to guard me! Dads will be dads I suppose.

Anyway, once I reached Sier, she was happy to hear we might have someone else on 'team demon-hunt.' She told me how she'd asked Chelsea to look into more details on the first murder, then I told her how Chels wound up on the crime scene of the second, meeting my Dad and all.

"You see how the grand plan all works together, dear?" she said, concluding that God was fitting us all together like a glove.

"Maybe," I said, "but 'the plan' could sure use one less demon on this side of your portal! I dunno how 'grand' an idea that was."

"Yes, well, in any case, I'm glad you and your father met Chelsea. I can tell you this, Angel: regardless of whether she ultimately believes about our demon or not, her diligence to prove or disprove it will help immensely in our search to find it."

"Cool. I just wish we had any idea of who it may have jumped into – after Dan."

"That'll be Chelsea's job to figure out, based on our murders so far. And Dan could be useful for having been occupied by the demon, albeit only briefly. I can make an attempt to open his consciousness deeper, to recall better the demon's attributes, perhaps allowing him to hone in on it."

"– If we were tracking it, stalking it, you mean?"

"Yes, exactly. I suggest we all meet up as soon as possible to discuss. I'll contact Chelsea, if you could call Dan."

"Sure, no problem. My only prob is my Dad. He doesn't want me demon chasing in the first place, so coming to see you might be difficult for me."

"Well, I hardly encourage lying or deceit, so if you're unable to sneak over, just bring him along with. The more, the merrier."

"Seriously?"

"Certainly. From what you've told me, he's in this deep enough anyway, having discovered one body, plus meeting Chelsea. Let's try for this tomorrow, shall we?"

"Sure, I guess!"

"Let's try to coordinate it for after everyone's day, so we can get everybody there," Sierra concluded.

"So, you sound like you want my Dad to be there then? Not like during the day, so I could just ditch school and avoid him?"

"All right, I'll confess – I have a surprise for you both. I've since spoken with your guys' angel through my portal. I may be able to bring her presence to our meeting as well."

"No shit, that's so cool! Her coming through the portal thing will freak Dad out, but to see her would probably trump that. Don't suppose you could call up my Mom too?"

"The portal's primarily used for contacting angel-guides, dear. I'm not entirely sure I can get Nevaeh there on a scheduled time like that. But I'm hoping, maybe! Besides, I make it a strict policy not to contact the dead. I believe that's the kind of thing that your father is wary of anyway."

"You're right, it is. Okay, nevermind. Could make for an awkward love triangle with all three of them there anyway, regardless of how Mom says she's cool with it."

"I won't pretend to know what all of that's about, Angel. I'll just say, 'agreed.' So, we have a plan then? Shall we shoot for six-ish?"

"You bet, Sier. I'll handle the boys, you get the girls! You be the good host you were when I was there, and you'll win Dad over!"