I need to pull myself together.
But he couldn’t, because for some reason, inside, his seams were splitting apart. Jasmine had become important to him. Amon hated admitting it, but he couldn’t hide it, even from himself. Accepting what she meant to him empowered him. He used to think Jasmine would be a weakness for him, but instead, maybe she’d become his strength.
He leaned forward, grabbing the remote off the coffee table. He turned the TV on, hoping it would keep his mind occupied. Every single channel he turned it to had a news reporter talking about the demons. Although, they continued to call them terrorists. Each reporter started the same way, “A band of terrorist have attacked the United States.” But they’d left out an important detail. The demons didn’t only want this country. They wanted them all, and they wouldn’t stop until they got what they wanted.
Amon thought again how acceptance was the first step to admitting the truth. The people of this world needed to fess up and face the reality of the situation. Yes, this was war, but it had been created by demons who didn’t think there was a place for humans in their new Hell. Maybe if the people of this world faced the facts, they would band together and fight, because if they didn’t, they’d all end up dying and their race would be extinct.
Amon shrugged, leaning back into the couch, and turned the TV off. Silence engulfed him, leaving his mind open and free, until Jasmine popped back into it. He turned to prayer once more, even folding his hands and looking toward the ceiling. Please. Just let her be okay.
Chapter 17
Mission Unaccomplished
Jasmine
Jasmine lay on her side on the hard floor, curling her arm underneath her head in an effort to get comfortable. The floor didn’t make a comfortable bed and she’d been waiting a long time for Ella to come and “save” her. But Jasmine didn’t need to be saved anymore. Bael had opened her eyes and made her see the truth behind who she was. The longer she’d thought about what he’d shown her, the more it all felt right.
Even still, the thought of double crossing and spying on Amon made her stomach sink. It shouldn’t. He didn’t matter. None of them mattered. At the end of the war, they’d be dead and she would thrive as Bael’s queen. Not that he’d said that, but she knew deep down he would make her his partner in every way possible.
Jasmine smiled. I like the sound of that.
She closed her eyes, letting the silence wrap around her. Ever since the conversion, her mind hadn’t shut up. She worked hard at making her head stop churning, but it had become a lot more difficult than before. After a few long moments, her thoughts finally quieted.
It didn’t take long before a squeak drew her attention to the window. She snapped her eyes open and sprang up, ready to go to the window and fight whatever attempted to take her fragile peace from her, but then it hit her. Ella. It must be her. So she remained on the floor, waiting, acting as if she hadn’t heard a thing.
She remembered the plan. Ella would come and take her from Bael’s evil clutches, but Bael didn’t have an evil bone in his body. Jasmine knew that now. She admired him, his creativity, his kindness. Her old friends would soon learn to do the same. She’d make sure of that.
The window creaked as two sets of fingers pried it open and Ella stumbled inside, making way too much noise to not be noticed. Bael wouldn’t interfere. He’d act like he heard nothing, even though he’d surely hear everything.
Jasmine forced herself to her feet, stomping against the carpeted floor as she almost lost her balance, making even more noise. Jasmine met Ella’s eyes, somehow refraining from dropping her forehead into her hands. I can’t believe Ella thought she would have rescued me. If Bael hadn’t put me up to going back, he would have heard the angel before she’d ever had a chance. I thought angels were better at this kind of thing. Guess I was wrong.
Ella slinked to the center of the room and grabbed Jasmine by the elbow. “Time to get you home.”
Jasmine forced a smile and a nod. “Thank God you’re here. I didn’t know how much longer I could stand it.” She made her voice crack. “Get me out of here. I hate it here.” She almost choked on the awful lie. Staying here would be the best thing for her. She knew that. Accepted it. And she would be happy to do it, at least until the time came to get rid of the rest of humanity. Since she’d joined the other side, she would have to kill. That fact didn’t scare her any longer. But she couldn’t kill anyone if she didn’t take care of the mission in front of her first.
So Jasmine took some steps toward the window and Ella guided her the rest of the way by the small of her back. Jasmine twisted, climbing out and dropping so fast she lost her grip and started to fall, but she never hit the ground. Instead, a flapping sounded and her hair flew up around her face as strong arms caught her.
Jasmine gasped and stared in Gazardiel’s face. He smirked. “At your service.”
“Uh, thanks.” She didn’t know what else to say, but she did know she meant the thanks. She hadn’t been ready to fall to her death from a second story window. Not that she would have died, but one never knew.
With a chuckle, Ella flew beside them in the air. “I guess I should have warned you I brought backup.”
Jasmine shrugged. “It’s fine. Let’s just get out of here.”
Gazardiel flapped harder, his wings like a fan of cool air on her face as he flew toward Beau’s. She had to stop herself from cringing. The last place she wanted to be was in the arms of an angel, but she stayed calm and focused on her breathing, somehow getting through it.
Before they landed, Jasmine said, “We could have just used the door. Bael wouldn’t have returned for a while.”
Ella hovered over Jasmine, raising her eyebrows. “How do you know this?”
Jasmine rolled her eyes. “Because he told me, Ella.”
“Do you honestly believe a demon wouldn’t lie to you?” Gazardiel shook his head. “After everything Bael has done to you?”
Jasmine clenched her teeth. “And what have the angels done to me? My angel mother gave me away to live with humans. She threw me to the wolves and left me to rot, alone, with no way of knowing who I actually was.” She hissed the words. “And how about you? Not explaining my powers, even before you knew the truth about me. You angels think I’m supposed to save you from demons. Newsflash, they already won a war against you. What makes you think you’ll stop them from winning this one?” She had a hard time stopping the words, but flinched as if she’d realized how wrong they’d been. A little bit of control would go a long way, but she didn’t seem to have any right now. She’d started shaking with rage the minute the angels said a bad word about the demons…but hopefully the flinch made Ella and Gazardiel think her anger stemmed from being abandoned in the first place.
Ella gasped. “Jasmine! That is quite enough!”
Gazardiel tapped a finger against his cheek and looked past Jasmine to Ella. “Something isn’t right here.”
Jasmine froze in his arms. “What are you talking about? Everything is right.”
Play it cool. Stay calm. They don’t know anything yet.
Gazardiel landed on the ground just before the steps to Beau’s front porch.
As soon as Jasmine stood on her own two feet, Ella yanked her by the elbow, making Jasmine face her. She searched Jasmine’s face, her eyes roaming over every feature. It took everything in Jasmine not to look away. After several moments, Ella frowned and rubbed the back of her neck. “Look at her eyes.”
Jasmine tried to rip her arm out of Ella’s grasp, but the angel held tight as Gazardiel made his way closer.
He examined her even more slowly. Jasmine racked her brain, trying to think of how the old her would have reacted.
Finally, her mind landed on a memory, so she crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back, tipping her chin up. “Think we can move this along? I’d really like to go inside.”
Gazardiel gripped her chin and held her face toward the light of the moon. “Ah. There it is. They are d
ifferent. Darker…” He frowned, letting her go. “Do you know what this means? I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Ella paced in front of the steps. “I have no idea.” She let loose a heavy sigh. “But we have to find out. And soon.”
When Jasmine licked her lips, she tasted salt. “There’s nothing to figure out. I’m fine. Better than fine. I’m happy to be home.” Her voice squeaked when she said the last word, but she kept going. “I just want to get inside already.”
Gazardiel made a swooping gesture toward the house. “Then by all means, go inside.”
With a nod, Jasmine jogged up the stairs and disappeared through the front door. Inside, she fell against the wall with a thud. She hadn’t even been back for ten minutes and already the angels were suspicious. Had she really acted that different? She hadn’t felt like she had.
She would have to do better. Bael had only asked her to do one thing, after all.
Steeling her resolve, she went toward the living room. She could do this. How hard could it be?
Considering looking at these people makes me want to vomit, it’s probably not going to be as easy as I think.
She pulled on her power, stroked it, making sure it still rested inside her. It whispered back to her, but retreated instantly. It probably didn’t like the recent changes she’d made, but it would get used to it. Eventually. Jasmine knew it wouldn’t happen overnight, but one day, her power and she would be one again. They had to be.
Amon sat on the couch as she strolled into the living room. She forced a smile and tried to relax her facial muscles to make it more believable. “It’s so great to see you.”
Amon sat straight, turning. When he spotted her, he rushed to her, wrapping his arms around her. She placed her palms on his arms and barely hugged him back. She couldn’t wrap him up the same way he did. With one touch from him, her body shook with anger and hatred pulsed through her veins. She might not be able to deal with close contact. Amon had become her enemy. Jasmine hadn’t thought of it like that until now, but it was a truth she couldn’t deny. If she had her way, she’d change that.
The old Jasmine would have gone crazy for Amon’s embrace, but this was Jasmine 2.0. The newer version she had a feeling nobody would like quite as much. They would either get used to it or she would kill them. The choice would be theirs. At least I’m giving them a choice.
Amon squeezed her tighter. “You’re safe. Thank the God above.”
She forced another smile and patted his back. “Yes. I’m safe. Thanks to Ella.”
He pulled back. “What is wrong? You sound different.”
“I am exactly the same. Don’t you worry.” She tapped her finger on his nose. That seemed like something the old Jasmine might have done. “I’m just tired. I couldn’t sleep well when Bael had me.”
“Of course you couldn’t. You were probably worried about what he’d do to you.”
“That’s exactly what I was worried about. I think I will go upstairs and rest, if that is okay.”
Amon nodded. “Do you want some company?”
Jasmine shook her head. “That’s not a great idea. I wouldn’t get much sleep with you next to me.”
Amon laughed, buying her lie for truth. This whole faking it thing might be easier than she’d thought it would be, almost like taking candy from a kid.
As she retreated to the stairs, the rest of the group came out of nowhere, appearing in front of her and welcoming her, some with hugs and some with smiles, but all with enthusiasm she couldn’t muster. By the end, her face hurt from fake-smiling so much, but she’d convinced them all. Exactly as Bael had wanted. Her undercover mission couldn’t be going more smoothly…well, except for the angels suspecting something, but they’d come around too.
If they didn’t, she’d kill them all. None of these idiots would even see it coming. They are all blinded by their love for me. Their faith in my goodness. Newsflash, I’m not good anymore.
Once she’d closed herself inside a bland bedroom, she laughed quietly until her eyes began to burn, like someone had dripped acid in them. She rubbed them over and over, but the pain didn’t dissipate. She didn’t know what happened, but decided it best to lie down and close her eyes. Let the fun begin. I’m ready.
***
Jasmine opened her eyes and yawned. She must’ve fallen asleep. As she sat up, she stretched her arms and realized her eyes no longer burned. Daylight streamed through the window in her room, showing her nighttime had passed and a new day had arrived. Time to get the ball rolling.
She hopped up from the bed and left the room, jogging down the stairs. Ready to begin. Ready to start the mission anew. She hadn’t convinced everyone yesterday. Today, she’d right her wrongs.
Downstairs, everyone had gathered in the living room. Again. For the good guys in this war, these people sure weren’t doing anything productive. All they did was sit around and talk. Which would work perfectly if they didn’t have demons to fight. The demons would win and these people would make sure of it.
The demons were stronger and faster than the people before her, but they also had motivation on their side. Unlike the people in this house.
Jasmine couldn’t believe she used to be one of them. It made her stomach churn thinking about it. After a shake of her head, she plastered her fake smile on her face and entered the room as one of them.
Before, her destiny had been chosen for her, but now she’d picked her own path. With Bael’s blood inside her, she could see with no blinders on. The irony in that almost made her burst into laughter, but she slapped her hand over her mouth in time. She still might have blinders, at least in some areas, but Bael had opened her eyes to the things she’d never let herself focus on before, showing her the truth in all the lies. She would never be able to repay him for that.
The first lie came when the first angel she’d met told her she was an Angel Blessed. In truth, her roots were a little more varied, being half-angel, half-demon. And she’d guess it did make her prone to evil. Ella, her mother, had fallen in love with a demon, after all. That summed everything up for Jasmine. She was following in her mother’s footsteps, right? Kids were supposed to do that, weren’t they? Of course, she hadn’t been a kid in a long time, so maybe she couldn’t use that excuse anymore.
Not that she was following her mother’s footsteps exactly. She hadn’t fallen in love with Bael. Not yet, at least. He’d just shown her how much she really hated humans, which she could do since she wasn’t one of them. Hell, she could judge and ridicule them as they’d done to her all these years…because she wasn’t one of them. She would always be more, a fact that kept swirling through her mind. It had become one of the only things she could focus on.
“Jasmine, did you hear me?” Gemma asked.
Jasmine shook herself and planted her smile back on her face. “No, what did you say?”
“We are going after the demons.” Amon cleared his throat. “If you are up to it.”
“Of course I’m up for it. Bring them on!” Jasmine laughed. “But how will you find them? They are all over the place right now.”
Caim tilted his head to the side. “There are some here, aren’t there?”
“Well, yeah. At least Bael and Lucifer.” Jasmine coughed. “But I don’t think any of us are ready to take them on.”
“I don’t know. If we join our powers again, we might stand a chance against Bael at least.” Cole grinned. “And I’m totally up for trying that out again. How about you?”
Jasmine widened her eyes. “Maybe. It was pretty cool, but I don’t know…” Jasmine paused for emphasis. “He’s pretty strong. I don’t think we can defeat him.”
She also didn’t want to try. Bael was her master now. She didn’t want to have to pretend to fight him. Not yet at least. She could barely hold on to this charade. There’d be no way she could handle a mock fight with her master. She didn’t care about the other demons, but she wouldn’t go after Bael.
“It sounds like you might
be scared of him…even after everything he’s done to you and your family.” Amber narrowed her eyes and stood from the floor, placing her hands on her hips. “And that doesn’t sound like the Jasmine I’ve come to know.”
Jasmine loosened her t-shirt around her neck. “I would love nothing more than to see him de-dead. But I just don’t think we’re ready to take one of the big guys on yet.”
Amon scrunched his forehead. “What has gotten into you, Jasmine? Defeating Bael would weaken their ranks. He should be our first target.”
Jasmine’s cheeks heated. “Listen, I don’t have to explain myself to any of you, but let me try anyway. I’m not going after Bael. I’m not ready, and neither are any of you. We just got back together after a long time apart, so maybe we should do some training as a group before we do anything else.”
Gazardiel stepped to the front of the room. “Jasmine does have a point. With her power so out of control, and none of the others even tested, how can you expect these guys to go after such a hard foe like Bael?”
“Where’d you come from?” Cole chuckled. “Have you been here the whole time? Because if so, nobody noticed.” He sucked in a breath. “Oh, that’s right. You just came back after disappearing. The last angel who used to disappear was working for the demons. Maybe we shouldn’t trust you…”
Gazardiel looked toward the sky. “You can choose to trust me or not. I’ve been up there, listening. And I’ve seen everything.”
Jasmine guffawed. “Have you now? Well, then why are you talking about my powers like you know anything about them? They aren’t from you. Or didn’t you know I’m not an Angel Blessed? I’m actually half-angel, half-demon, and all badass.” Jasmine tried to stifle her grin. This was going to be easier than she’d thought. Nobody trusted Gazardiel because of what Evangeline had done. Maybe she would have a chance to turn each and every one of them against the angels. That would make it easier for them to accept fighting for the demons.