Nephilum

Chapter 27

"Any changes?" Michael asked as he walked into my room.

I shook my head grimly. I had been with James for a few hours. All he did was sleep, but I still couldn't stop obsessing over his breathing. I sat on a chair I pulled up next to my bed. His hand was warm in mine.

Michael pulled up a chair beside me and let out a long sigh. "He's going to be ok, you know. He has to be."

"I know. He's James. He'll make it."

We sat in a comfortable silence. I looked over at Michael. "How'd you two meet anyway?"

He smiled and shook his head slightly. "We actually met a few years ago. I had just become an angel and James hated me. I don't know why, but he did. Then his brother died and I was the only one there to help him through it because his dad was too busy with work to care."

"What about his mom?"

"She died seventy years ago when she gave birth to James."

My eyes widened in surprise. "Seventy years ago? How does that work? James can't be more than nineteen."

Michael gave me a wry smile. "We never did tell you how someone becomes an angel did we?"

I shook my head. They hadn't, but I just kind of assumed you were born into it.

"When you die your first time, when you're still human, God selects certain people to become angels. The rest of the people are either bad and go to Hell, become a demon, or you go to Heaven. In heaven, there's certain places where the souls go and they relive their best memories. If you fall from Heaven you fall back as a human and either go crazy or can't remember your life in Heaven. There are a few lucky ones that remember everything like Sam did. But when you die again, then you automatically go to Heaven or Hell-depending on how you lived your second life on Earth."

"Oh. Right." To be honest, he lost me at the part where God selects certain people.

"About that, when do I get to meet Him?"

His eyes widened. "Meet Him? As in God?"

I nodded.

"Never. I mean, it's a possiblity, but most angels never get to meet Him."

I shrugged and turned my attention back to James. We lapsed into silence once more. I swallowed hard and observed James' features. His dark eyelashes laid against the skin beneath his eyes, his curly dirty blonde hair was slightly falling into his face, his strong jaw line was prominent as ever. I sighed.

He really was beautiful. As was most things related to Heaven.

I could imagine his intriguing hazel eyes. The way they lingered on mine just a second too long, the way they scoured a room as he walked in as if he were looking for possible threats.

James suddenly let out a loud breath. Michael and I's heads instantly shot up to look at James. My grip on his hands tightened to the point it probably hurt, but I was past caring.

"Your hand's sweaty." James grumbled slightly as his eyes fluttered open. I smiled and let out a shaky breath. Then I started to do the most insane thing someone could do in that situation. I laughed. It was an airy, ugly laugh that probably made me look like a seal having an asthma attack. I gripped my stomach as giggles of relief shot through me.

Michael looked at me like I was insane and even James cocked an eyebrow, though both were grinning.

I couldn't help myself. I was so relieved. James was back. My James. The James that would call my hands sweaty and tell me I had food in my hair.

Tears started to pool in my eyes and I blinked hard to hold them at bay. It was no use though because they came flooding down my face. I now openly sobbing and I launched myself into James, careful of his injury.

James seemed stunned for a few moments before he hesitantly pulled his arms around me. He patted my back awkwardly and I just cried harder. "I thought you were going to die." I mumbled into his shoulder.

"I guess it's good I didn't." James replied. There was a certain tone in his voice that told me he was going to be ok.

I shook my head in amusement and leaned back away from him. Michael was just sitting in his seat, his head cocked at an angle and a knowing smile on his face. I payed no attention to him though.

"What happened after we split up?" I asked James. I wiped my tears on my shirt and sniffled. I was too curious to be embarrassed for breaking down in front of the guys.

"A little over half the demons followed you and I turned back to take care of the ones that followed me. I killed them and ran after you. You were already pretty far down the corridor, but I started running after you. That's when I noticed something was wrong." At this, his brows furrowed together like he was trying to figure something out.

Michael and I both leaned forward a bit, listening with a sudden, new found interest.

"I don't know how, but I knew that something wasn't right. I was just starting to turn around when someone stabbed me. It had to be an angel, but I fell and when I looked up, they were gone."

"How did you get out?" I asked.

"I had to take a short cut to another lesser used exit. I was barely conscious by the time I made it out of reach of the warding."

I paused for a moment. I already knew that there was a traitor, but the fact that I didn't know who it was bugged me. I had a feeling it was someone I already knew. I just couldn't connect all the dots.

I nodded, deep in thought. My head was starting to throb, so I relucantly stoped thinking about it.

Hopefully we would find out before it's too late.