City of Angels and Demons (On Hold)

Chapter 1: New People Old Places

I sit at the bar sipping a ginger ale like I always do. I turn the cool glass on the mahogany countertops. A familiar Green Day song plays in the background of the chatting around me. Young women, tourist women, and underage girls fling themselves at the handsome young men around them and the men enjoy the attention. A few of the men have been looking my way but even fewer try to talk to me. (I guess it is now intimidating to where tight blue jeans and a red t-shirt at a club.) When they do, I easily have them running away with the "I'm pregnant" line and then say that I am waiting here to see if the father will show up. It is one of the few times I ever lie to people.

"Hey, Adriana. Can I get you another one?" the bartender Mike asks. He was an older man who was in his fifties and was the only one who knew my charade. His brown hair was speckled with gray hairs. He has friendly brown eyes and has been bartending a long time at the Edison. He is my only friend in the bar.

"That would be great. Thanks Mike," I reply. I lift my head and let my dark brown hair fall back off my shoulders. As he fills my glass, he notices that I look a little more sad than normal.

"Is everything going ok? You look upset."

"I am fine, just another long day." It wasn't another long day. I don't actually have to work. I take the occasional modeling job but nothing big. I don't have to eat so I only get jobs to pay rent. It has been a year since I left the order of angels. It has been a year since Tyler died.

"Well, it looks like more than that. Are you sure you are ok?"

"I am fine Mike but thank you." After giving me a strange look, Mike walks off to help another customer. I look up into the mirror above the back shelves, filled with liquor bottle, and see one man in the crowd looking at me in the mirror. As soon as he starts to walk my way, I know he is not like any normal guy. I had seen him before, only a few times, at this bar. He was never drunk either, no matter how many scotches he throws back.

"You play a smart game," he says as he reaches me and sits on the stool next to mine. I look at him and give a questioning look at him, even though I know what he is talking about. His moss green eyes gleam with mischief and his black hair is stylishly messy, like he just woke up. He wears dark brown leather jacket, almost black, with a black t-shirt stretched underneath it. "You really know how to fool people."

"I'm sorry. I don't know what you are talking about. Do I know you?" I ask.

"My name is Keegan and no, you don't know me. I know you though."

"Oh, and how do you know me?" I say, leaning in. He does the same. Keegan studies my face for a minute then drags his eyes over my body like it is a sweet treat.

"You're Adriana. You are the angel that fell in love with a human." I stop and stare at him. There was no way he was an angel because I would have sensed him. I had been in Los Angeles for a year now and no one had found me or even caught a whiff of me. I am, was, a warrior angel. Even after I ran away my powers stayed intact. I can sense angels and demons. Now that this man is closer to me now, I know that something is off about him. I still can get a read in him, but I can guess what he is.

"What are you?" I ask.

"My name is Keegan and I think you know what I am."

"I know you are a demon but what kind is the question."

"If you come with me, I will tell you."

"Are your buddies coming too?" I didn't see anyone with him, but if he really knew who I was, then he would not be stupid enough to come here alone.

"No." I stare into his greens eyes without fear but with curiosity.

"Ok but ground rules."

"Whatever you ask my lady," Keegan says with a bow.