"Deacon Ash"

Chapter 19: Angelos to the Rescue

The discovery of my mother's final message had me reeling. To have found her words posthumously stirred emotions within me that I am unable to describe. At the same time her indication of Angelos as my rescuer had given me a sense of optimism. He was the one to free me from my dark prison. He was my light in darkness as he himself had told me at the bar. There was only one way out and that was to ask for him to save me.

I set the letter down on the table and had taken a deep breath. My lungs burned, reminding me that such a simple feat was no longer possible without repercussions.

"Angelos," I called.

Nothing.

"Angelos," I said again and was met with the same discouraging result.

I bowed my head and closed my tired eyes in acquiescence that my light in darkness would not come. It was too late.

"I am here," Angelos said.

Startled, I snapped to attention to find him sitting next to me, expressionless.

"Get me out of here," I said.

I was standing and ready to go. My lungs felt as though they had self-combusted as I breathed hard and fast from the excitement of my pending rescue. The sensation was well worth the discomfort.

"It's not time yet," Angelos said.

"We need to go before they come back," I said.

"I said it's not time yet," Angelos reiterated.

I could not believe my ears.

"Now sit...please," Angelos said.

Reluctantly, I had planted myself back down in my chair.

"You obviously found the note as I knew you would," Angelos said as he eyed the letter.

I nodded.

"I suppose you understand now that I'm more than a caretaker," Angelos said.

I shrugged my shoulders, not really caring who he truly was or what his purpose was. I just wanted to go.

"Who are you?" I asked anyway.

"Look around you and tell me who I am," Angelos asked.

The letter from my mother had not spelled it out for me either. I felt ignorant.

"My light in darkness," I said, shamefaced.

"Close enough," Angelos said.

"Can we go?" I asked.

"Our talk is not over," Angelos said.

"There isn't anything else to talk about. Just get me out of here," I said.

"There is much to discuss," Angelos said. "But for now, I simply need you to listen so you know what you're up against."

"I already know," I said.

"Do you?" Angelos asked.

"A demon," I said. "And a hellhound."

"Correct on both counts," Angelos said.

"Can we go now," I asked.

"No," Angelos said. "I have a question for you, one that you have not asked yourself."

His philosophical angle had me puzzled and frustrated.

"What question?" I asked.

"Why is he after you?" Angelos said.