Out of Grace: An Angel Bloodhound Prequel

Out Of Grace

  By Natalie Fields

  Published by Publications Circulations LLC.

  SmashWords Edition

  All contents copyright (C) 2014 by Publications Circulations LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this document or the related files may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means (electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, companies and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of either the author or the publisher.

  The following story is for entertainment purposes only. This book contains sexually graphic scenes depicting consenting adults above the age of 18 engaging in passionate sexual acts. This story is intended only for persons over the legal adult age. By downloading and opening this document, you are stating that you are of legal age to access and view this work of fiction. Mature readers only. Reader discretion is advised.

  Limit of Liability and Disclaimer of Warranty:

  The publisher has used its best efforts in preparing this book, and the information provided herein is provided "as is." Publications Circulations LLC makes no representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaims any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose and shall in no event be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damage, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.

  ~ ~ ~ ~

  PROLOGUE

  THE RAIN WAS coming down hard. Thunder and lightning accompanied the deluge as the water gathered on the ground, nearly flooding the parking lot of the motel.

  A man stood at the window of one of the motel rooms, watching the storm as it raged on outside. The violent weather nearly matching the fury of the thoughts that raced through his mind.

  What the hell am I going to do now, he thought. All that I've ever known has just been ripped from me. I'm an angel! That's what I was created to be and what I've always been. But that's all been taken away from me now.

  It started with an argument-this endless debate regarding his Father's seemingly preferential treatment with these humans.

  He took it for granted, his Father's unending well of patience. His Father's easy forgiveness. What he had forgotten was that his Father was also and will always be a teacher.

  And so it had come to pass, Jayden was sent to Earth to learn his lesson.

  And oh, what a learning experience it has been so far.

  I should have just kept quiet about my true feelings for humans-or lack thereof. Why did I have to keep arguing with Father over his preferential treatment and tolerance of them? Now look at me. Now... I'm one of them. One minute I'm amongst the most revered of beings and the next I'm nearly a the bottom of the food chain. How utterly humiliating.

  In his frustration, Jayden stalked from the window and to the bed. His bedside clock winked out at him, announcing in its red digital glow that it was Tuesday, 9:30 p.m.

  He never had to bother with the concept of time. But since his exile, he had learned to measure his life in days, hours, seconds.

  It's been three days. Three days since he last saw Paradise. Three days since he basked in the bliss of heaven.

  Three days of absolute... dare he say it?

  This must be what hell feels like-a place where time is excruciatingly slow and drawn-out.

  He shook his head. The words of his last conversation with his Father still ringing in his head.

  Jayden was to learn compassion. Compassion?! Towards these foolish creatures? With their arrogance, their self-entitlement and hypocrisies?

  His Father ignored his diatribe, telling him in his gentle way just how dramatically different his life was about to become.

  As a human. A man. As Jayden St. Paul.

  Well, at least I still got to keep something angelic about me. Though, I was never a saint. I just didn't think I was so awful that I needed to be thrown out of Heaven.

  Briefly, he wondered if any of the other angels would notice that he was gone. Probably not. He hadn't actually noticed any of the others' absence until his Father had mentioned that they were also cast out of Heaven.

  Glancing away from the window, his gaze fell upon the items left on the floor by the bed. There was a duffle bag filled with items that he was told he would need as a human. Some clothes, a comb, a toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, a razor, shaving cream, and other things that he had yet to figure out how to use as he went along. He had seen human use them, so it should be easy enough to learn. It was just that he had to use them now that irritated the hell out of him.

  There was also money in something that his Father had called a briefcase. Now Jayden was no expert when it came to money, but it did seem as if there was a whole awful lot of it in there. Then again, Father had assured him that it would be more than enough to get him settled on Earth, and that someone would be here to guide him on how to use his money wisely.

  Besides the money, there were documents that would verify his identity. All fabricated, naturally. Among them were a birth certificate, social security card, passport and a drivers' license.

  Of course he would actually need to learn how to drive... but that could come later. For now, he had everything he needed to leave this terrible room and find a real place to live.

  So what was holding him back? What was keeping him here?

  Perhaps it was the lack of motivation. Somehow he just couldn't bring himself to join this society of humans with all of their flaws and degenerate attitudes. He felt he was so superior to them that it wasn't even a contest. Yet, he was instructed to learn as much as he could about these creatures that were so precious to his Father. That he may grow compassionate towards them. Be more understanding of them.

  Right. Like that was ever going to happen.

  Just as that thought crossed Jayden's mind, a lightning bolt shot straight from the sky and struck the earth right in his line of vision. The terrible spectacle momentarily blinded him.

  Ok, ok, he thought as he blinked rapidly, trying to rid himself of the effects of the sudden burst of light flashing in his eyes. I get it. I'm not happy about it, but I get it.

  He started to make some plans. As soon as the rain died down a bit, he would get out of this nasty excuse of a room and walk around the city for a while. Maybe if he could explore this new world he was currently in, things would make more sense.

  He certainly wasn't going to get anywhere by sitting in this room sulking. It seems that Father had pretty much made up his mind and it was clear that there would be no reprieves. He was stuck here now... for probably the unforeseeable future so he might as well make the most out of it.

  He was honestly tired of sitting in this room being depressed for long enough.

  Looking out the window again, Jayden decided that the rain had slowed down enough for him to take his walk. Grabbing his leather jacket from the nearby chair, he collected his room key, threw open the door and headed out into the night.

  According to his Father, he was in a place named Moon Bay-apparently it was a city that was famous for being located near an extraordinary beach. There was so much for him to learn but from the looks of it, it was a nice enough place for him to be exiled to. Many restaurants were open until all hours as well as a few other businesses around the city. Maybe he would stop in one of those diners for something to eat. He was really st
arting to develop a taste for food, which was something he never had to worry about when he lived in Heaven. Even the concept of "eating" was foreign to him.

  The rain was a mere drizzle now that he didn't seem to mind it at all. To be honest, he actually kind of liked the way the raindrops felt as they lightly peppered his head. He ducked into a little diner that had quickly become a favorite of his not only because of its proximity to the motel, but that the food was very satisfying. As You Like It also happened to be one of those handy eateries that remained open until rather late.

  Coming in out of the rain, he took a seat in a booth at the back of the cafe. This time of night, customers seated themselves, which was fine with him.

  Jayden had eaten there enough times that he didn't need to see the menu. Tonight, he had a hankering for one of their large cheeseburgers with a side of crunchy sweet potato fries. Jocelyn approached his booth with a big smile.

  "Hi there," she said brightly. "Are you going to need a menu tonight or do you know what you want?"

  "No thanks, Jocelyn," he replied. "I'll take one of those cheeseburger plates with a side of sweet potato fries. And may I have some sweet tea with lemon to go with that? Thanks."

  "Sure thing, handsome," she said smiling and she bustled away to put in his order.

  Handsome. Hmm.

  I wonder why she calls me that, he thought, because it happened a few times now for him not to notice. He guessed by human standards, he would look handsome. Angels were nothing but beautiful creations. But Jocelyn's "handsome" felt like a compliment of the human kind. Thinking that, he suddenly felt he did not want to know.

  Moments later, Jocelyn returned with his tea and the day's edition of the newspaper for him to look through while he waited for his food to arrive. When he unfolded it, the photo of a fairly attractive young woman jumped out at him. The headlines screamed in big, bold, black letters:

  LOCAL WOMAN STILL MISSING!

  Intrigued, Jayden scanned the story of a Moon Bay woman who had been missing for about five days now. According to reports, it had looked like she had returned home after working the late shift at the local hospital where she worked as a nurse. Her purse, keys and car were all found at her home. Evidence suggested she may still have been wearing her nurse's uniform when she went missing. Police had determined that while she may have been taken at her residence, there was no sign of a struggle. This led to the suspicion that the suspect may have been someone that she knew or that her abductor was skilled enough to cover his tracks.

  Jocelyn brought Jayden his food as he was reading the news story for a second time. He wanted to make sure he hadn't missed anything from his first scan of the article.

  "Here ya go, Handsome," she said smiling, placing the plates of food on the table in front of him. "Anything else you need?"

  "No, Jocelyn," he replied. "This looks perfect, as always. Thank you."

  "You're most welcome," Jocelyn beamed. "I'll check in on you later, then."

  As she walked away, Jayden picked up one of his fries and nibbled on it as he continued to read the article. Her name was Marci Hayes. She was 26. She was described as attractive at 5'4" tall and 120 pounds. From her photo, he could see that she had shoulder length blonde hair and green eyes. He observed Marci's image a bit more. Yes, he thought to himself, by human standards, she would look quite lovely.

  Would that be why she was taken? From what he knew of humans, they could be desirous of beautiful things.

  He went on to read the rest of the newspaper as he was going through his food. But he found that he couldn't help but come back to the story of Marci Hayes. It felt as if he was inexplicably drawn to it. Something akin to a buzz or a hum that started somewhere in the back of his head was growing increasingly apparent as he scanned the news item once more.

  With growing unease, he found that he could not take another bite. He stood up and reached for his wallet. Jocelyn arrived at his table as he was leaving her a generous tip.

  "Mind if I take the paper with me?" he asked as she started to clear his plates.

  She laughed in response. "For you honey, anything." She straightened up, plates in hand, "It's late and in a couple of hours I'll have the new ones, anyway. Have a good evening!" She winked at him and turned to walk towards the kitchens.

  Jayden stared at her back for a moment, frowning a little. Not all humans were as exuberant, he observed. Could it be because he was, as she'd said, handsome, and she liked that? What else do human women liked in human men? Was her lively spirit the reason why he felt he could tolerate her, even like her as a friend?

  A human friend. For some reason, as he watched Jocelyn made an elderly couple laugh at another table on the other end of the diner, it didn't seem such a bad idea.

  With a grunt, he tucked the newspaper under his arm, exited the diner, and walked back to his motel room.

  After he locked his door, he moved to close the drapes, blocking the view into his room from the outside. He then took the newspaper to the bed, shook it open and laid it out, its front cover facing up on the bedspread.

  The picture of Marci Hayes stared up at him unblinking from the front page.

  The longer he looked at the photo, the more he felt as if it was trying to tell him something. Almost as if she was trying to tell him something. The humming in his head that started back in the diner when he first laid eyes on Marci's picture just kept getting stronger.

  What was this sudden and strong attraction to this particular woman? Why her? And all these feelings from a mere picture. What was going on? What was happening to him?

  Suddenly, a breakthrough. A flash of insight. Like a light bulb just went off in his brain.

  And in that moment he just knew.

  He knew where Marci Hayes could be found.

  No sooner than he let that knowledge sink in, another vision came through. It was as if the floodgates were thrown wide open and information just kept barraging his unprepared brain. In the next second he not only knew that she was locked up in an old building somewhere, but that she was also lying prostrate on the floor, bound in what looked like an old blanket. He could almost make out shapes of boxes in the darkness of where she lay-maybe it was a warehouse? A storage facility? He couldn't tell for sure. And he couldn't be certain if she was in pain or was even breathing.

  She looked motionless. And this bothered him.

  He may know nothing about this woman, but he knew for certain that he didn't want her to be dead.

  Jayden was telling himself that he had no true liking for humans. Besides Jocelyn from the diner, he could barely tolerate humankind in general. He was put off by their lack of conscience, their pervading sense of entitlement, their prejudices, their habits, their hate.

  But Marci Hayes was one of the good ones-the better ones. As a nurse she spent most of her time tending to the sick and helpless. She would be on her feet for hours, running back and forth to care for patients, attending to their needs. Many of them, upon recovering for their ailment, would walk away without a backward glance or a kind word in appreciation for her hard work. Some did not live long enough to thank her for her efforts. Yet, day in and day out, she did it willingly-this thankless and exhausting job. She studied diligently and worked hard her way to get herself through nursing school so that she could help others in the best way that she knew how.

  So yes, Marci Hayes was a good human; one of the worthy ones. She didn't deserve to be treated this way.

  Armed with this insight, Jayden knew it was his duty to rescue her. He suddenly felt like the angel that he used to be. He just knew a mission when he saw one. He might still have this physical body, and he felt the constriction, the heaviness, of having to work out a human brain. But his instincts were sounder in ways that were inhuman. Sharper than a steel blade, it was impossible to ignore. But there was something else that was new about being human-when before he could not disobey, he has the will to do so now.

  But it did not ev
en cross his mind to follow the course of disobedience. It only occurred to him because he felt this will of man as a heavy load, but no cell in his body wanted to disobey that his brain did not even give it a second thought.

  He went straight to planning.

  He knew that he couldn't just go wandering around Moon Bay searching for this woman. Someone was bound to ask him questions that he couldn't answer, or worse, draw unwanted attention to himself. So he needed to figure out how to do this as discreetly as possible.

  First things first, he thought as he tore out the article from the paper, folded it, and tucked it away in his jacket pocket. He needed to find the place he kept seeing in his head. He had to get Marci out of there before something horrible happens to her.

  He would just have to figure out the rest as he went along. The woman's safety was the most important thing right now. If someone asked the wrong questions, he would just have to play it by ear.

  He started walking down the empty streets, past storefronts and shops that were closed for the night, not knowing where he was headed exactly. He just kept walking; his footsteps careful and measured. He continued to walk down paths and sidewalks that lead away from the downtown area and into the suburbs. In no time, he found himself in a more affluent part of the city.

  Now he knew why he was so bent out of shape earlier over people being suspicious of his presence and of them possibly asking questions. After all, people don't take kindly to strangers wandering around rich neighborhoods in the dead of night. Keeping that in mind, Jayden made it a point to keep his stride even and purposeful, to keep him from looking so out of place.

  As he went deeper into the neighborhood, he couldn't help but wonder if this was just a shortcut to where Marci was being detained, or, if his hunches were wrong and that he was actually lost. However, it became increasingly clear the latter wasn't the case when he began getting a very strong pull towards one of the side streets.

  Still letting his feet take the lead, he turned into what appeared to be a superbly maintained, tree-lined, long driveway. As he continued to walk down the drive, the pull kept getting stronger, the hum in his head seemed to get louder.

  Yes, she's around here someplace, Jayden thought. I can feel it. I know she's close by.

  He had walked about halfway down the path when he could make out the profile of a rather large building. Upon closer inspection he found himself staring at a mansion. The stately building was maybe a half a mile from the main road and was surrounded by a high wrought-iron fence that ended with a closed double gate.

  Seeing those closed gates must have stirred something in him. His mind kept insisting that he just had to find a way in, that this was where Marci is. This sense of urgency rose to a level of alarm that was unlike anything he'd ever experienced. All he knew is that he must get those gates open.

  But before he could even figure out a plan, his thoughts were interrupted abruptly by the sound of a motorcycle.

  A motorcycle, he thought frantically, looking for a place to hide. At this time of night? Maybe somebody called the cops on me. Or maybe it's a patrol?

  He thought he could fling himself behind the nearest tree, but the motorcycle was faster, roaring its way to where he stood, skidding to a precise stop right in front of him.

  The rider was dressed completely in black from his black helmet all the way to his black riding gloves.

  Jayden wasn't sure what was going on and whether or not he should be concerned for his safety. But before he could even think of what to do next, the driver removed his helmet.

  Jayden found himself staring back at a man with jet black hair and bright, almost electric blue eyes that seemed as if they were glowing... as if they were lit from within. The rider was quite tall and fit, yet Jayden didn't feel intimidated or that he was in any danger. They studied each other in silence, each of them waiting for the other to move.

  Finally the man spoke, "Do you know where she is?"

  The stranger's question threw him off but Jayden recovered quickly, trying to keep his expression as neutral as possible.

  "I don't know what you're talking about."

  The stranger let out an impatient sound. "You know exactly what I'm talking about."

  "Are you police or something?"

  "No."

  Jayden studied the man once more. Yes, he wasn't a cop, Jayden thought. Otherwise I'd be cuffed by now. Finally he said, "If you are referring to Marci Hayes, the missing nurse, then yes I think know where she is," he paused. "Or at least I'm about to find out."

  "Good." The relief in the stranger's reply put Jayden at ease.

  "I feel that she's here somewhere, maybe in the back. Please don't ask me to explain-I've never seen this place in my life before tonight." Jayden paused. "But I have a hunch that there's a small building in the back of the property." He closed his eyes, trying to recall the vision he had earlier. "I could see boxes. Some of them covered in cloth or something," he described.

  The man nodded. "Could be an old storage shed," he said. He moved to put his helmet back on. "Let's get her out of there," the rider said, turning on his bike.

  Jayden looked skeptical. He looked over the man's shoulder to the tall iron fence. "And just how do you propose that we do that? That gate looks rather solid," Jayden asked. If he was still an angel, it would be very easy to scale that gate.

  Except if he was still an angel, he wouldn't be here doing human business in the first place.

  "This is your first time out, isn't it? Never mind. Stay here," the rider turned on the ignition, bringing the motorcycle back to life. It's roar seemed so loud this time of night, Jayden thought everyone could hear it.

  "I'll be back," the stranger said. With that, the man made a sharp turn on his bike and disappeared into the night.

  Jayden thought of taking the opportunity to make a quick escape. But again, before he could act, the man reappeared on the other side of the gate. Jayden couldn't see much of what the man was doing but a few seconds later, the gate creaked open... the gap wide enough for him to slip through.

  "How did you..." Jayden's asked, his question trailing off.

  "Ask your questions later!" the man barked, "Look, pal, we're running out of time! If you want to save this lady," the stranger motioned for Jayden to hop on the bike. "Get on!"

  Jayden's feelings of urgency trumped his wariness of the man and he climbed on the motorcycle.

  "Ok, which way are we going?" the man asked.

  Jayden focused for a moment, then he pointed to the direction he felt drawn to. "That way," he said.

  The man sped towards the direction that Jayden instructed him to do, the trees, the side of the mansion all seem to whiz past in a blur. In a few seconds they were at the back of the house. They spotted a storage shed at the very edge of the estate. This building was located well away from the main house and was practically hidden under some low hanging trees.

  The man brought the motorcycle to a stop at the door of the shed. Jayden quickly dismounted the bike and looked for the entrance. Jayden checked the door but wasn't surprised to find it held closed by a heavy lock.

  All at once, his frustration, his raw determination to get the woman filled him. His mind screamed: I just need to get through this door!

  And without warning, the lock suddenly snapped and fell to the ground.

  For a brief second, Jayden stared at the broken lock, astounded. First the visions, and now I'm breaking locks with my thoughts? Jayden shook his head. Looks like I'm developing more useful little abilities, but no time to think about that now. I've got to find Marci, he thought as he reached for the door handle.

  Jayden opened the door carefully. He didn't know who or what was in there waiting for him or possibly guarding Marci. As he opened the door wider, he squinted into the darkness.

  "Here, you might need this," said a voice behind him. "There's no one else in there except the lady nurse-yet. I'll stand guard here."

&
nbsp; He turned to find the man holding out a flashlight to him. He took the item and nodded his thanks. Jayden carefully entered the shed, pointing the beam of light towards the floor ahead.

  The woman looked just like she did in his vision on the same blanket he had seen in his mind.

  He rushed to the woman's side. Her eyes were still closed. He checked for a pulse. At his touch the woman stirred slightly. "She's here!" he called out to the man outside. "She's unconscious," he told the man when he appeared and knelt right next to them to take a closer look.

  "She's breathing but unresponsive," the man said. "And she barely has a pulse." The man looked at Jayden.

  "We've got to get her out of here," Jayden paused. "But I don't know where to take her."

  "I'll take care of that," the man said. "Let's get her as far away from here as we can before her kidnappers show up." The man saw the worry on Jayden's face. "Don't worry, she's not going to remember us because she isn't awake. Watch her until you see the ambulance coming, then get the hell out of there. Don't let anyone see you. Alright?"

  "Of course," Jayden replied, a bit stiff because he had to ask.

  The man stood up, holding Jayden's steady gaze. "I've got something to deal with here," he continued. "But we'll talk later."

  "And I suppose that means you'll find me again?" he asked, by now guessing what the man was.

  The stranger, who did not feel a stranger anymore, nodded. "I'll find you."

  With that, the mystery rider was gone.

  Whatever misgivings Jayden may have had with the seemingly gargantuan task of getting himself out of there while carrying the unconscious Marci was quickly replaced by his resolve to keep her safe.

  Hoping that she wasn't injured in any way, Jayden gently lifted her. He found her to be lighter than expected. He carefully hoisted her over his shoulder and quickly exited the shed.

  Jayden with his unconscious charge slinked through the trees as fast as he could manage. As soon as he got as far away enough from the mansion and back on the main road, he looked for a good patch of grass to lay her on. He found a grassy spot in between the houses that didn't look like a driveway and laid her down there.

  It didn't take long for him to hear the faint sound of sirens in the distance. Ah, so motorcycle man delivered. With a last look to check on the woman, Jayden stood up and looked for a place to hide while the paramedics picked her up.

  Once the ambulance reached Marci, Jayden swiftly made his way away from the scene, hoping he would be far away when those people thought of searching for the person who would have brought her there and called them.

  Following his feet once more, Jayden crept behind large, carefully manicured shrubs and trees, making his way back to the side roads that brought him to the neighborhood. As soon as got to a more populated area, he relaxed. And then walked down the familiar street that led to his motel.

  Jayden's mind was racing-full of unanswered questions about Marci, the man on the motorcycle, his special "abilities," and more.

  Could he be right about the man on the motorcycle? He seemed to know a lot about Jayden without ever having met him. He had a hunch, but the Father had never said a word about him. But the man certainly know about Jayden. The more he thought of that, the surer he was that the man knew he was a fallen angel.

  Yes, he would certainly love to have the chance to talk with this man at length. He seemed to have answers; answers that Jayden desperately needed.

  It was no surprise for Jayden to find the man sitting astride his motorcycle, parked in front of his motel room, when he got there.

  "Sorry that I had to leave you to handle all that," the man said, gesturing to his bike. "But we won't be able to fit on my bike."

  Jayden just kept staring at him, not knowing where to begin.

  The man smiled and held out his hand. "My name is Alexander Sage," he said.

  Jayden stared at the offered hand for a second and suddenly burst out laughing. "I'm sorry, man. No offense but," Jayden paused for air between laughs. "Alexander Sage? Are you kidding me?"

  Alexander grinned. "I suppose, the irony of my name will not be lost on angels." Then he winced. "I had been... vocally expressive about my opinions about humans. I think the name's more of a punishment than an attempt to give me an honorable name among men. A blatant show of heaven's sometimes twisted sense of humor."

  Forked lightning showed in the night sky for a moment, and they both looked at it before looking at each other again.

  "So you're a fallen angel, too."

  "Here, we call ourselves Fallen. Why don't we take this conversation inside? We don't want anyone to think we're crazy," Alexander suggested, smiling.

  Like hell I cared, Jayden thought, but nodded in agreement. He wasn't known to be difficult in heaven, and he did not plan to be one as human, even if he felt he had more than enough reason to vent. He walked past Alexander and unlocked the door, motioning for the other man to follow him.

  Once inside, Jayden walked over to the mini fridge and retrieved two bottles of ice-cold beer. He handed one to Alexander and then twisted off the top of his own.

  Alexander raised his bottle in salute. "Welcome to Earth," he said as took a swig of his beer.

  Jayden chuckled, "Thank you, I guess. I'm given the name Jayden. Jayden St. Paul. I'm sure you know that I've got a hell of a lot of questions."

  Alexander nodded. "I'm sure you do. Ask away."

  Jayden looked around, not knowing where or how to begin. His eyes landed on the beer in his hand.

  "This stuff, for example," Jayden started, even if it's a mundane topic. He had so much to ask that he didn't know where to start. But he had to start with something. "They call it beer. It does not even taste good-it is bitter, and not even smooth, though tolerable when icy cold. But from what I've observed, humans seem to like it. Some of them love it so much they drink enough to get themselves crazy drunk." And drunk was something he could not understand why anyone would want to be.

  Alexander laughed. "Oh man. Wait till you get a taste of wine. Now THAT's going to give you something to write home about!"

  Jayden smiles, relaxed at Alexander's laughter, and started a conversation that would take them into the morning.

  BY THE TIME the sun was coming up, Jayden understood a lot more about his surroundings, material things and how to use them, food, wine, an inkling of what he was meant to do with what he possessed, and how to think and act like a human.

  Angels who were banished to Earth were gifted with certain abilities. These abilities would allow them to help humans in certain ways, in the hope that the more they interact with humans, the more they could get to a better understanding of their species. It was clear to both Jayden and Alexander that Jayden's calling had something to do with finding missing people.

  Alexander didn't exactly warm up to the idea of telling Jayden what his calling was. What he did share was that he had a mission that was closely related to Jayden's, and that he had fashioned his lifestyle in a way that he could be on call most of the time. Jayden didn't push. He figured he would eventually know-and sooner than he thinks.

  Now, Jayden knew without a doubt that he had to move out of the motel and find himself a better place to live in, not to mention make arrangements for his finances. Alexander mentioned something about putting his money in a "bank account." Jayden knew about banks-he'd certainly heard about depositories of human wealth that they give much worth into here on Earth. But he has to think like human now, and he certainly knew banks would be safer to keep his money than the briefcase he kept near his bed. What he owned now was given by the Father. He was not about to waste them in whims.

  He would also need to set himself up in a job of some sort. And since he had a knack for "finding" missing people, Alexander suggested a career in "private investigative work". They discussed this in length until he understood that this would indeed make the most sense. Saving worthy humans was an important purpose, and he ackn
owledged that this would be a worthy purpose for his life on Earth.

  Besides, Alexander further explained that humans had this nasty little habit of disappearing all the time. Whether they ran away, got lost somewhere, or were taken by someone against their will, it would be up to Jayden to figure out how and where to find them and bring them safely back to their loved ones. Alexander assured Jayden he would have enough clients to keep him busy, while Jayden thought about lost little human beings who would be too young to find their way home, and he was sold. They could be pretty cute, and even he could not fight their charming innocence.

  By the time Alexander left at noon, Jayden had a lot to ponder over. Looking at the business card that Alexander had left him, he made a mental note to contact this Real Estate Specialist named Vilma Ramirez as soon as possible. Alexander had purchase his home through Vilma and thought she could help Jayden find a house.

  Well, while I'm still not thrilled with my situation, mused Jayden, at least it doesn't look as bleak as it did yesterday before I met Alexander.

  He bought today's paper from a newsstand that stood a block away from the motel. He waited till he was safely back inside his room to open the paper and read the day's headlines.

  MISSING MOON BAY WOMAN FOUND SAFE:

  Local Businessman Arrested in Suspected Kidnapping

  And there she was.

  Her picture once again made the front page. Only this time, Marci was sitting up in a hospital bed, looking pale and weak and haunted. She looked exhausted, but has on a grateful smile on her face.

  Jayden couldn't help but feel something, an emotion, that made the inside of his chest feel painful and constricted. He and Alexander might have rescued her that night, but they were late on some counts. They could not save her from her memories.

  Marci had agreed to be interviewed about her ordeal.

  According to the article, while Marci didn't remember much after she was abducted, she did remember who took her. The man in question was Darren Chesterfield. He was 34, single, an only child of a family who was not only well-known in Moon Bay but pretty much in most of the East Coast. Their money came from antiques, and Darren the only heir to their quite abundant fortune.

  Looking at Darren's picture, Jayden didn't think that the man needed to go around kidnapping women to get their attention. Darren looked like a fairly attractive man with brown hair and brown eyes. He may not have been the best looking man in the room, but his money would have added to his allure. It didn't have to take Alexander's word for Jayden to know how a powerful tool money to drive humans to do either constructive or despicable things. Enough stories had reached even the farthest extents of heaven about this.

  The story goes on to say that Marci went out with Darren a few times but she just didn't feel that particular "spark" with him. So after a few months, she had told him that their relationship didn't seem to be going anywhere and that they needed to part ways.

  Apparently, Darren didn't take the news too well.

  After the break-up he had continued to badger her with calls, texts, and emails. He would show up at her home unannounced, he'd keep on sending her gifts-each more extravagant than the last. Darren had become, by all accounts, a stalker.

  Marci was annoyed at first at his persistence. But his incessant invasion of her privacy and unwanted attention started to scare her. She had contacted the local police to file a restraining order, but was met with a response that because he had not laid a finger on her or had verbally abused her in any way, there were no charges to file. Marci also got the impression that his family may have something to do with the police being hesitant with charging Darren, being who they were and all.

  On the night she was taken, Marci just came from working a double shift at the hospital. She found Darren waiting for her in the bedroom. She tried to get away to call for help but Darren was faster. He lunged at her, covering her mouth with a cloth soaked in chloroform. Marci lost consciousness.

  She woke up, hands and feet bound on the floor of what looked like a storage area. She had no recollection of how she got there. Over the next five days, Darren had visited her and had sexually assaulted her repeatedly. When was done, he'd cover her face with a blanket so that she might not be able to see her surroundings or where he was headed.

  When asked to identify the person and the circumstances surrounding her rescue, she came up with nothing. She said she faintly remembered two male voices, the touch of cold night air as she was carried out of the shed for the first time, and finally being laid down on the grass where she was later found by paramedics. Other than that, she knew nothing.

  Jayden hoped that the police wouldn't focus too much in finding her savior and instead just put all their attention to bringing Darren to justice.

  "I should hope that all my suffering would be enough evidence to charge him," Marci told the reporter. "That they should put him behind bars so that other women won't have to go through what I have."

  Darren Chesterfield had been taken into custody shortly after Marci's rescue and was currently being held without bail. Naturally, his parents had retained the best attorney that money could buy, but even the priciest attorney could not sway the judge into granting bail especially since he had been so careless-fingerprints, not to mention bodily fluids, were found on Marci's body and at the shed were she was held.

  Still, you never know with these humans, Jayden thought, making a mental note to keep a close eye on this case as it develops.

  Clearly, Darren was a sick bastard. He couldn't stay away from women who had rejected him. The probability of him inflicting the same pain to someone else would be fairly high.

  And the Chesterfields were no saints either, defending their son by maintaining that he was innocent and the evidence faked so he could be set up. They clearly had turned a blind eye to their son's mental state, ignoring his psychotic tendencies completely.

  Well, Jayden would certainly not be ignoring him. He was not one to feign ignorance when attention was most certainly needed.

  He might be human now, but he would be one human psychotic beings would have to contend with while he stayed here on Earth.

  JAYDEN MADE AN appointment to meet with Vilma Ramirez later that afternoon to check out a few houses in the hope to find one that was right for him.

  Alexander had been right about this woman jumping at the chance to assist him. As soon as Jayden told her that he was a friend of Alexander's, she sounded as if she couldn't seem to contain her excitement. Already, she had several "amazing" houses in mind that she could show him very soon.

  Vilma had, immediately, cleared her calendar for the next three days. She wanted to devote all of her time to him, hoping that this Mr. St. Paul was just as loaded as her star client.

  As it turned out, he was quite taken with the very first house that they viewed. His specifications were simply that he wanted a large, private house and that money was no object. Vilma had practically almost broke out dancing in a jig on the spot upon hearing that last part, but she held herself in check, lest he got turned off by her exuberance and she loose the sale. The dancing, she thought, could come later-as soon as he signed the dotted line and she had the big, fat check on her purse.

  Jayden didn't know what to make of Vilma's jubilation, but he understood the feeling of belonging-not as he did in heaven, but enough-to the large property with the white spacious house. He liked it on sight, and for the first time since he landed and became Jayden St. Paul, he felt excited about something.

  He would make this house his home away from home. He would be at peace in this house from the turbulence of human life outside. He could protect his silence here.

  It wasn't a bad place to stay in between finding missing person missions.

  But really, what Jayden termed as just large and spacious-and white-was a luxury not all humans could afford. But he was going to learn about this much later. The five-bedroom house was located in the middle of a 10-acre stret
ch of land. It came with a swimming pool, a pool house, a tennis court, and several guest cottages on the grounds. As he explored the interiors, he felt that he would have more space than he would actually need. But it didn't bother him in the slightest as he felt more and more at home as they toured the property.

  He could already picture a house with useful staff-some people has to clean this place and cook food for everyone-as well as have overnight guests once he met more Fallen.

  There was also plenty of room to put a home office in. He figured this would be a good idea since he wouldn't have to go into town every day. Especially since he had yet to learn how to drive and get a vehicle. Clients could come to him.

  Thinking about the last 48 hours, he thought of having a gate and fence installed as well. Perhaps the gate could be controlled remotely? He could ask Vilma about that later.

  After he had seen the entire house, he turned to Vilma.

  "This is it, Ms. Ramirez," he said. "This is the one. This feels like it could be a good home for me."

  "Are you absolutely sure Mr. St. Paul? We've got more houses to look at," she said.

  "Yes, Ms. Ramirez," he said. "I'm quite sure this is the house for me. And I'm not going to haggle over price. Whatever the seller is asking, I'm willing to pay. How soon can you prepare the paperwork?"

  She was beaming. "Why, I'll get them ready right away! Will you be prepared to sign them in the morning?" Vilma asked.

  "The sooner the better," Jayden said, smiling at her because clearly, he had made her happy.

  THE FOLLOWING MORNING, Jayden signed papers and became a homeowner.

  After collecting the keys from Vilma, he went on a shopping expedition for furniture. He found that while it was exhausting, he enjoyed being able to choose exactly what he wanted for his house. He had bought enough furniture and accessories to fill his home completely.

  Then he checked out of his motel room and brought all of his belongings to the new house.

  Since his furniture was arriving the following day, the house was completely empty. He did, however, buy bedding and pillows earlier that afternoon and had set that up on the floor near the fireplace in the den. He also had food bought already cooked from the As You Like It diner and, remembering Alexander, asked Jocelyn's help in what best wine to drink with the food he'd bought to go.

  Jocelyn had been very helpful. He just could not understand her reference about a companion that night. Why would she think he would be with someone? He didn't even have a single chair in the house. Where would he ask a guest to sit?

  As he lay down in front of the fireplace that night, he was smiling. Okay, so he was giddy because of the wine. Maybe a companion wouldn't be too bad an idea. He would have to ask Alexander about that, and meeting other Fallen, and maybe a few human beings, too.

  Maybe this new life wouldn't be so bad after all. The wine made it look like he was off to a pretty good start.

  And in that moment, Jayden felt that he had everything he could ever need to spend his time here on earth. He has this house, money for whatever he would ever need, other Fallen as friends, and a purpose in his life. He couldn't feel that miserable. There were a lot of things he could explore. He would not be bored. If this was what Father wanted him to do, he would obey. He's still an angel inside. Nothing could take that away from him if he would not let that happen.

  Yes, he thought as he drifted off into a blissful sleep, I have everything I need. There is nothing or no one that I could ever want in this life.

  Little did he know that his contentment would be reduced to a mere memory a few days later...

  When he met her.