An Angel Among Us

Chapter Seventeen: Arriving In Los Angeles

Team Angel is on the road again. That's what Jayden is insisting we call ourselves: Team Angel. A little bit on the nose but still catchy, I guess. Jasmine disagrees though. She and Lucas think we should be called something more eloquent and less in your face. Calling ourselves Team Angel is basically telling everyone that was not of this world.

That'll definitely get people's attention at the gas station if he accidentally blurts that out at the next pit stop.

Lucas is driving again which gives Jayden plenty of time to come up with code names in the backseat with his twin sister. I'm in the shotgun side of the car attempting to keep calm. We've been on the road for about an hour and so far nothing has attacked us, blew our car, or bothered us in any way unless you can't the flirtatious teenage boy at the Stop & Go gas station a few miles back who insisted on trying to win Jasmine over.

After Jayden came back from inside the store, he went all overprotective brother on that guy's butt. And if I'm not mistaken, I think there might have been a little trickle on his pants as he was scampering away like a puppy with its tail between its legs.

It was hilarious. We had laughed about it for a few miles, making jokes about the guy as a group. But eventually, quiet enveloped the car once more.

Los Angeles isn't too far off now. Just an hour or so more and then we'll arrive in L.A, finally. With the window down slightly, a nice breeze entered the car, blowing my hair back and cooling down my face. It's quite warm in California especially compared to Illinois.

This is my first time in California. I didn't travel across the country much growing up. I remember going on a field trip with my classmates to Nashville for the end of year celebration. All the kid's families had pitched in so that the trip would be a success and a blast for the students.

And it had been.

But that was the farthest I have ever been from my hometown. And now here I am with my friends, driving to Los Angeles to find a strange man that I've never met so that he can take us to Angelus Urbem.

If I told a random person on the streets, they would think I was nuts. After a few minutes, I couldn't help but inquire about something that had been rattling in my brain since we had left the headquarters.

"What's going to happen when we get to Angelus Urbem?" I said, curious and a little nervous.

"Well, first you'll probably get settled in and then you'll get to meet the King and Queen as soon as possible. And after that, your training will start." Jayden answered casually.

"You already told me that part." I said," I meant, what will they expect from me? I mean, I was raised by a mortal. I don't know how to be Angel royalty."

"I get it," Jasmine speaks up," Your nervous and that's nothing to be ashamed about it. Everything takes time. Your parents aren't going to expect you to do anything that you aren't ready for. If I know them, they'll be so ecstatic to see you that royal duties will be the last thing they think about."

"Yeah, exactly," Jayden agrees," They haven't seen you in years. They'll just be happy to have their only daughter back home."

"But it's not my home. Not really." I murmured.

A hand covers in mine gently, skin slightly ruff.

"Hey," Lucas spoke softly," I know that your confused right now but you need to understand. Home isn't a place. It's people. Wherever your friends and family are is where home is. So, I am telling you now, I will always be here to keep you safe. No matter what."

"Thanks," I whisper, choked up.

Even now, Lucas is being my rock. I don't know what I would do without him in my life.