The Seven Seraphim

Chapter FIVE

Luke and Jake met at the college early the next day to get Jake registered, and to discuss the update with the strange new beasts. Sam clung onto Jake's arm as they approached the tall building entrance. She had had a very deep sleep once the fire had cleared her mind and calmed her heart. Last night, she had fallen deeper in love with the angel and his eyes of fire. 

Sam went to class and couldn't stop staring at Jake the entire day. He was just...perfect. He was an angel, and he was with her for the current forseeable future. And that made her smile. All the girls at her lunch table guessed tht she was staring at the quaterback, but they didn't know anything about her, so how would they know? The day went by slow, and Sam spent it daydreaming about a time and place where they could be together. Not that it would ever happen. she was sure Jake liked Sarah, and that hurt. A lot. 

After school, The two made their way outside and over to Luke, who had called and told them he had important information. Jim was waiting for Lucy, and smiling wide. Jake was unsure why. 

"Hey guys," He said as he came over to them. Sam waited for Lucy by the doors. "Whatcha got for me?"

"We took another one down outside the school a few hours ago. Charde has it in her lab. She'll figure out it's weakness. It's only a matter of time before they're no match for us. Oh, and she said the booster might make you a little more edgy than normal." Luke smiled at Jake's confused face. Jake pucnhed him lightly. 

"You think you're funny, don't you?" Luke chuckled a little, faking an attempt to hide it. Lucy came over and told Jim she and Sam were gonna walk to her apartment. Jim nodded, and the two girls left, arm in arm, down the street. Luke told Jim he wanted to talk with Jake, alone, and Jim walked down the street in the opposite direction. 

Jake and Luke stood silently watching the people and traffic. After almost five miutes, Luke spoke up. "I'm concerned about Sam, Jake." Jake shook his head, not understanding Luke's point. 

"Luke," He said. I'll be fine. I don't mean to sound cocky, but there isn't a whole lot that I can't handle."

"Girls, for one." Luke retorted. "You don't get the whole feelings part. I mean, you used to. Before-"

"Don't!" Jake warned abruptly, and Luke attacked him for it. 

"Come on, Jake, you know it's true. Ever since Jak died, you haven't benen the same. I know you two were close, but brothers always are. Jake, you have to get over it. It's done. He's dead, there's nothing you could have done about it."

"I could have let him kill me!" Jake shouted, and Luke backed up. "At least then, we'd both be dead. Luke, I killed him in cold blood! I wanted to kill him! Don't tell me it's over, because it's not!" He started walking away, furious. Luke hung his head and shook it, then decided to go after his friend. 

"Jake, what I was saying, was that you need to not hurt Sam. It would crush her if you were mean about it."

"About what?" Jake asked with annoyance in his voice. Luke laughed. 

"You still don't see it, do you?" He asked. Jake looked at him, completely confused. "Dude, she loves you. I watched all last night. She is so deep, it's not even funny. So, when you tell her you don't want her, be nice okay?" With that, he turned and walked away, not giving Jake a chance to argue. At that moment, Jake's superhuman hearing picked up a scream, and he saw Jim open his wings, and take off towards the girls. He shook his head, then did the same. 

It only took a few seconds for Jake and Jim to get to the girls. They were almost faster than light. Almost. To the human eyes, they looked like a shooting star. To a computer, just a streak of light. Not big enough to cause any alarm or anything. They set down on opposite sides of an alley, where they heard the two girls try to convince the gang not to do anything with them. 

"I'm telling the truth, we have protection. You're gonna die if you hurt us." Sam said. "Especially me."

"Shut your face," Brute, the leader said. "This is my turf, and I do what I want." He took out a pocket knife and cut off Sam's shirt, making her scream for Jake. They all laughed. 

"Your Jake can't help you. Even if he does find us," one of the goons jeered. "He can't take on all of us." Jake and Jim moved fast. They quickly sprinted in and to one side, then Jim threw a huge dumpster their way. Sam saw it, pushed Brute away, and the two girls took off down the opposite end of the alley. The dumpster landed two feet behind where the girls stopped. It now seperated them from the guys. The gang was now aware of the two huge guys blocking the exit to the alley. 

Brute stepped forward, upset that somebody would try and take away his fun. He kidnapped them fair and square. "What do you want?" He houted from across the alley, and the one on the left laughed.

"I want the girls, a million dallors, and you head." He said, and they both started laughing. Brute was furious. Nobody mocks and threatens Brute and lives to tell of it. 

"Come and get them," he challenged. "Or are you scared?" They looked at eachother, shrugged, and started walking forward in a very intimidating fashion. 

"Uh, boss," one of his goons spoke up. "Maybe we should just surrender. I mean, they did throw that dumpster, and I-"

"Shut up, Skunk!" The leader reprimanded. He came face to face with the one on the right, and was taken back by his eyes. They looked like they were encasing a fire in them, and it burned bright and hot. The fury was clear in the fire, and he had to take a step back before ordering the attack. The two smile, nodded, and disappeared. 

All he felt for the next few seconds was wind. He heard the cries of his buddies getting their butts handed to them on a silver platter, but he wasn't worried. They'd be dead, and he would just get more. they two seemed to come out of nowhere, and all around him, lay his buddies. They looked like they had been attacked by master martial artists. He slowly backed up with his hands raised, not wanting to end up like them. His watch had counted fifteen seconds. 

"Guys, come on. It was just a little fun. I didn't hurt them...much. The one has a small cut, that all, but you're not going to hurt me because of that, are you? I mean, it wasn't my idea." He pointed to Skunk. "It was his. I-I just, you, authorized it and planned it. I-I'm a nice guy. Can't we-as humans-work something out?" The one that had originaly been on the left threw him a wad of money. 

"Go away. I never want to see your face again, is that clear?" Brute shook his head, thinking of how he'd hire a bigger gang. That earned him a hard punch and getting thrown against the dumpster. The girls screamed. "I said AM I CLEAR?"  He quickly nodded and tried to move, but the held him fast. 

"Okay, you got ti sir. I'll-I'll never...nope. I'm retired." They didn't seem to take it as a joke. He got punched again, and he thought his lungs flattened. 

"Get out of here, creep," the other one said, and let him go. "And do something with your life!" He called after the fleeing gangbanger. 

Brute had to stop running and take a deep breath outside the alley. He looked at the money and tried to decide if he wanted to be a firefighter, or some olympic runner. He imagined those guys coming after him again, and agreed that he would run. He took off as fast as he could, putting as much distance between them just in case. You could never be too careful. 

Jake and Jim walked around the huge dumpster, and calmed the two girls down. Sam fussed over Jake for a bit, but then gave him a hug and didn't let go. She was embarrassed. that guy had cut aprt her shirt, and she was cold, and didn't want Jake seeing her like this. He detached her for a second, and gave her his shirt. It wasn't even sweaty, but it smelled like him. She put it on, and then ran her hands over his bare chest. It was hard stone. Nothing could penetrate it. Except those terrible creatures. 

 Jim grabbed Lucy, ignited his fiery wings, and took off. "Let's get you home," Jake said, and grabbed her waist. He ingited his wings, told her to hold on, then took off.