"I've been obsessed with the whole Angel thing since you guys were held hostage," she said shrugging. "I wanted to be prepared if that 'freak' was right even though I had my doubts."
I wasn't all that surprised that Sam and the others questioned our story. I had heard the tale firsthand and even I harbored my own doubts. But here stood our proof in all seven massive feet of muscle. One thing was certain, God wasn’t messing around when he created his Archangels, if Haniel was any indication of that.
"So, why can't we start training now?" Robert asked, standing and pulling Lynn up in one swooping motion. "Let's get this show on the road. I for, one don't want the girls entering into a situation they're not ready for. If that means we train until we drop from exhaustion so be it."
Mark and Shawn surged to their feet at his words, pulling Sam and me up at the same time. "I agree," Mark said, finally sounding like himself, as he laced his fingers through mine, briefly squeezing them gently, trying to reassure me.
"Very well, we will use God's playground for the training," Haniel said, gesturing toward the vast beach outside the plate glass windows. "I would think all of you might wish to change your garments."
I smiled, looking down at Sam's six inch platform sandals that did great things for her legs, but would be highly impractical for training. Of course, Lynn's scuffed converse sneakers weren't much better.
Sam, Lynn and I scurried off to one of the extra guestrooms in the beach house that Lynn and I were sharing. Mark had offered his dad's room, but none of us felt comfortable being in there. The room seemed to pulsate as if it held the evil essence of the man that had vacated it. Every time I passed the door, I felt the hairs on the back of my upper arms stand up and a chill would race down my spine. For the most part, we all avoided that section of the house and only risked walking by it on our way to the utility room to do laundry.
I tossed Sam an extra pair of cutoff sweats and a St. Briggets t-shirt that I got in the mail back in Montana after I registered. Sam grimaced looking at the shirt, making me giggle.
"Ha ha ha, you're so funny," she said, making a face at me before a brilliant smile crossed her face and a mischievous giggle slipped out. "That's okay, I'll wear this. It'll be nice to see it dirty and trashed."
Lynn sniggered as she headed down the hall with her own change of clothes.
Five minutes later, our group was assembled on the sun-warmed sand. The beach was deserted, which was one of the biggest perks of having your own private beach access. Gone were the sunbathers, screaming kids, and annoying litter. Most nights, all of us would head out to walk on the beach. We usually started off together, but within ten minutes, a half-a-mile would separate us. Sam and Shawn always wound up ahead of the group. Sam would taunt Shawn into chasing her and off they would go, leaving a trail of Sam's laughter behind in their wake. Mark and I were always the stragglers of the group. I was enthralled with the all the shells that washed up on the shore each day. My collection now held court in glass vases Mark had purchased for me.
Haniel joined us shortly after we had assembled. He wore an outfit like I had never seen before. I could only gawk when I looked at him. The clothing looked like it had been tailored just for him, accentuating every lean muscle of his body. Made from material that looked as gauzy as paper streamers you would hang up at a birthday party and giving the impression that the slightest touch would tear them to shreds.
"Wow," Lynn muttered beside Sam and me.
Sam giggled, raising her eyebrows at us both.
"Oh brother," Robert muttered, pulling Lynn closer to him to whisper in her ear.
We couldn't hear what he had whispered, but Lynn gave him a playful slap and placed a quick searing kiss to his lips. It was obvious he was looking for a little reassurance. It was a funny to see cool and collected Robert a little frazzled, he always seemed so put together. Of course he was being ridiculous, as handsome as Haniel was; there was nothing sexually appealing about him. It was like admiring the Sistine Chapel or the Grand Canyon, both spectacular and awe inspiring.
I shot a sideways glance at Mark and saw him studying me as he pulled the thoughts from my mind.
"Not even the slightest sex appeal?" he asked silently.
"Well…," I shot back teasingly as Mark growled and made a quick grab for my wrist. I darted around him using my extra ability to stay just out of his reach. Giggling, I hid behind Shawn, trusting that my brother would protect me. I realized my mistake instantly when Shawn snagged my slender wrist in one hand and swooped his other hand beneath my knees dangling me upside down, making me an easy target for Mark.
Giggling now uncontrollably, I tried to keep my shirt from sliding past my midriff. Mark advanced toward me with a wicked grin on his face as he snatched me easily into his arms. My giggles stuck in my throat as his hand slid around my smooth, flat stomach, securing me more firmly in his arms. He could touch me a million times and I would never get used to the waves of heat that shot through me from the electricity we shared. Glancing up, I saw his eyes begin to smolder as his thoughts followed mine. Bending down, he placed his full lips on mine. I sighed and parted my lips, giving him the access we both wanted. He tightened his arms around me drawing me even closer.
"Perhaps you can save that for a more appropriate time," Haniel said in a dry voice, breaking through my kiss-induced daze. Flushing, I wiggled out of Mark's arms, swaying slightly on my feet as the effects of the kiss flowed through me. Mark slung his arm around my waist, anchoring me to him as we both turned to face Haniel.
Haniel gave us a look that made it clear he thought we were acting more like a bunch of horny teenagers than Chosen Ones. It was obvious he plucked my thoughts from me when I saw the look of affirmation in his eyes. Drat! Note to self - try to block thoughts at all times, I muttered to myself.
"Shall we begin?" he said, suddenly all business. "It's obvious all of you have succeeded in reading the mind of your counterparts," he said, looking at us for confirmation.
"Yep, Shawn and I just figured it out last week with Krista's help," Sam said.
"Good. The ability to communicate through the mind portal is one of the most important gifts The Light has given you. This will be your greatest asset in battle. I'm sure in your recent attack against The Dark Angel, you realized how very crucial this gift is?" he said, directing the question at Mark and me. I nodded my head as he continued. "The next gift he gave is the ability to sooth and balance each other. This is a gift that needs no instruction, as I'm sure you have figured out. That is the extent of your shared gifts. As for individual gifts, the Guides are given the ability to control and receive the emotions of those around them. This is by far the very essence of why you were created. The Light gave you this extraordinary talent so that you can influence the souls of the unsure. With every Abbadon that has walked this earth, they have…"
"Abad… what?" Shawn asked, voicing my own question.
"Abbadon is the name we call all evil men that have walked the earth's surface. Abbadon means destruction, ruination. Those that receive this name are out to destroy and ruin others. They are able to gather forgotten souls to do their bidding. Guides are sent to rescue these souls before they are lost forever. I'm here to teach you how."
I looked around at the others trying to process the information he had just given us. Was he trying to tell us that men like Stalin and Hitler had been Abbadon's and Guides had intervened in those situations? Hitler was responsible for millions of deaths, so had the Guides failed?
"They did not fail. They were merely greatly outnumbered. Many Guides and Protectors were killed trying to save forgotten souls and bring them back to the right side," he replied, picking my thoughts out of my head again. "Most times, the Guides are successful, thus the reason these occurrences have been sporadic over the years. The Light instructs me to send you in to intervene at the most opportune time."
"What about my dad?" Mark asked quietly.
Haniel shook his head. "The Dark Angel wi
ll have his Judgment Day, but now is not the time for him. That situation is being monitored as we speak."
"Well, teach us how to go in and kick some ass," Sam said in her usual exuberant way. After a brief pause, she clamped her hand over her mouth. "Oops, sorry about that. I guess it's some kind of biblical law against cussing around you right?" she asked, trying unsuccessfully to look abashed.
"Perhaps, in the future you could find a better way to express your assessments," he said, making himself clear.
I flashed a smile at Sam. Obviously swearing was out. "Ooh, you're in trouble," I mouthed silently to her.
Sam clapped a hand over her lips, nodding her head solemnly, although her bright shining eyes gave away her merriment.
"Let's begin," Haniel said, ignoring my and Sam's silent antics. "I want my Guides to stand here," he said, indicating the space behind a line he had made in the sand with his foot. "Protectors, you can stand over there," he continued, indicating the sidelines.
Sam, Lynn, and I faced Haniel apprehensively, not sure what to expect.
"Now, close your eyes, and instead of casting my emotions away, you must filter them. Your emotions will work like a blanket, smothering what I cast your way and replacing it with your own," he said.
Obediently, we closed our eyes, nervously awaiting his next move.
I felt the familiar nausea from the foreign emotions Haniel sent our way. All of my instincts pushed me to shy away from them like I had done for years, but instead I faced them head on as Haniel instructed. I was unprepared for the heartbreaking pictures that flashed in my mind. The pictures consisted of starving children, passing before me at lightening fast speed, yet each one seemed to burn through my very soul. The despair was tangible, and my head spun as I tried to help tamper the emotion as it tried to consume me.
The emotional stress became more than I could bear, sending me to my knees, as I vomited the contents of my mall lunch. I put my hands on the sand trying to control the waves of nausea that continued to swirl around in me even after my stomach was empty. My head swam and my body continued to protest as I tried to recover from the foreign assault. I had suffered from the emotions of others for years, but I had never felt them try to smother mine like that before.
Mark was at my side in an instant. "Are you okay?" he asked. I nodded my head, not yet ready to open my eyes. This was different than my normal emotional sickness which I had learned to fight, this was an emotional assault.
I opened my eyes as the nausea slowly seeped away from my body. I was mildly surprised to see both Sam and Lynn in similar positions on the ground. They usually had much better control over their emotions than I did, and I was a little relieved that I wasn’t the only weak one.
"What was that?" Sam asked in a shaky voice.
"That was a touch of despair," Haniel said.
"Just a touch?" I asked incredulously. "And what the heck were those pictures?" I asked, still shaken from what I had seen.
"When you accept someone's emotions, you will get a look into why they are feeling that emotion. Each individual will be different. For example, some may have mental pictures of a difficult home situation, while others may harbor pictures of things they've done that they are ashamed of. I chose the images that you just witnessed to convey despair."
"They made me feel awful," Sam said quietly.
"The mental pictures are a great asset, they will give you crucial insight into the individuals you are sent in to save. Eventually, when you are well-trained, you will use these images to your advantage."
"Well, I guess let's go again," Lynn said with the same reluctance I felt. I wasn't overly anxious to repeat that exercise.
"No, it is time for rest. Tonight was just a test to give you a taste of embracing the emotions of others. Soon you will learn to use your own purity to filter out the negative emotions and replenish what has been taken from the forgotten souls," he said, turning away from us. "I will now train with the Protectors," he continued in his formal way which I was getting used to.
I was relieved by his words. I didn't want to be a wimp, but I wasn't going to argue. I felt like a freight train had hit me, leaving behind a tattered mess. Mark helped me to my feet while Shawn and Robert did the same for Lynn and Sam. Walking like gimps, we hobbled to the side of a sand dune and sank back down gratefully next to each other.
"Well, that sucked big time," Sam muttered as the guys walked away.
"No kidding. I feel like I lost an arm or something," Lynn said, rubbing the tender part of her chest, where mine also ached.
"I sure hope Haniel is right and the next time doesn't suck so much or he might be getting a few more choice words to report to his boss," Sam said, sounding more like herself.
Despite the pain, I had to giggle. The mental picture of Sam cussing out an Archangel was just too much to resist. Lynn and Sam joined in, and before we knew it we were clutching our sides with one hand and leaning against each other for support. Glancing up, we saw the guys looking at us as if we had lost our minds, which sent us into a fresh onslaught of laughter. Finally the giggles receded and we returned our focus to the training in front of us.
Haniel had Shawn and Robert against each other while pairing Mark with himself. Observing Mark next to Haniel, their differences in stature were unmistakable. I had always liked that Mark was so much taller than me, enjoyed standing on tiptoes to link my arms around him, but watching him next to Haniel made it seem as if he had shrunken a few inches. I felt a wave of apprehension knowing that Mark was still recovering from his hospital visit and I knew for a fact sparing was out.
"Um….," I said starting to stand up. Sam tugged on my hand trying to pull me back down before I could intervene.
"He knows. See, he's using Mark as an example so Shawn and Robert can do the actual sparing," she said, pointing out how Haniel was only mock sparing with Mark. I could see she was right. It was obvious that Haniel's strength was limitless as he maneuvered Mark around, taking the brunt of each movement so that Mark's body was not jarred in the slightest.
I sank back down on the sand relieved. I didn't want to bruise Mark's ego by embarrassing him, but I also didn't want him hurt. I was glad Sam had stopped me. I knew that Mark's injury frustrated him and he was ready to return to normal. I also knew he still harbored major guilt that he hadn't been able to protect me, as he put it. I felt that was a big part of why he was blocking me from his thoughts lately. At least with him sparing with Haniel, I knew he was safe but still learning the skills he needed.
The guys continued to train for another hour until the sun began to set. Looking like we had felt the previous hour, they staggered toward us covered in sweat and sand. Mark reached a hand down and pulled me to my feet. "You okay?" I asked quietly. He smiled ruefully at me.
"Yep, but man, I'm out of shape. I know Haniel was taking it easy on me, but damn, the moves he's showed us are tough. Muscles I never knew I had are majorly cussing me out right now," he said, shooting me my most favorite grin.
Impulsively, I linked my arms around his neck and planted my lips on his the soft skin giving it an affectionate nip. At times like this I just couldn't resist the pull of our connection. Obviously feeling the same, he set his hands on my waist to anchor me in one spot while he dipped his head to place his own scorching kiss on my sensitive neck.
"Get a room," Sam said, pulling my hair lightly as she passed with Shawn.
"Um, how about not," Shawn mockingly growled. "That's my sister after all, and it's my job to keep the pervs away."
Laughing, I grabbed Mark's hand as we headed up the steep driftwood steps to the house. "Pretty sure I'm safe with an Archangel around," I said, glancing back at Haniel who was standing at the water's edge in obvious deep meditation. I couldn't help wondering where he went when he wasn't doing his job training us Guides and Protectors.
Chapter 3
The next morning I woke with a knot in my stomach. Lying in my bed, I analyzed my dream from the night before a
lthough nothing out of the ordinary had happened during it. Mark and I had spent the time watching the waves wash up on the shore. We hadn’t spoken, but that wasn't unusual. We often reverted to the non-communicative dreams we had shared over the course of our entire lives up until a couple of weeks ago.
The reason for the knot had to be something else.
"So, are you contemplating how to get out of prom?" Lynn asked from the other bed in the room.
Ugh, there you had it, today was our prom. That explained the knot. Once again, I wondered how Sam had even talked me into it. Yeah, yesterday the whole excitement of finding the perfect dress had clouded my perspective on it, but it now came crashing down on me. I had unsuccessfully tried to get out of it last night, using Haniel as the scapegoat, but the others had argued me down.
"Look Krista, we already know we're not normal, obviously," Sam had said, indicating Haniel who was still outside. "But we can at least act like we are every once in awhile. Plus, don't forget you already promised your mom we'd swing by the hospital on the way."
With that one statement, Sam had sealed the deal. I couldn't deprive my mom. Being cooped up in the hospital for weeks now was wearing on her, and I knew she felt like she was missing out on my last few weeks of high school.
"Maybe the training this morning will kill me," I grumbled, climbing out of bed. "Come on Feline, let's go change." I said grumpily, grabbing some clothes on my way out the door. I could hear Lynn laughing behind me as I trudged down the hall. "Whatever, Lynn, keep yucking it up?" I said, a little louder than necessary.
"What's up sis?" Shawn asked, coming out of the second guestroom he was sharing with Robert.
"Oh nothing," I said, not wanting to complain again. I hated it when people harped on stuff, and I didn't want to be viewed that way.
"It'll be fine," he said, not having to read my mind. "We'll stick together the entire night and don't worry, everyone will be so busy living up their big night, they won't give you a sideways glance," he added, ruffling my bed head before darting into the bathroom ahead of me.