Angels and Misfits

Chapter 5

Alex, 1945 

The demon—Albanachred—Al, they called him. Like the gangster.

He was nowhere close to that. He was inner-city filth, at most. A failed tempter.

The club singer in the floor above them sang Billie Holiday’s “God Bless the Child.” How fitting.

The basement was nothing but brick wall, cold cement floor, a few puddles, and muffled words above them. A light hung from the ceiling, hardly lighting up the room.

And it was the perfect place for a demon to conduct regular business. Trading small favors for an unuttered price. The rate for any and all favors—no matter how large or small—was that of a soul. This guy, this cockeyed bupkis, was racking up favors and sending the hellhounds after unsuspecting souls.

Some of the favors had been whispered in the club upstairs.

He’d promised wealth and women, mostly. A few women had mentioned everlasting good looks, to get a man.

Al wasn’t exactly spelling out the terms of their agreements, though. Humans were free to make such choices, but demons knew they had to tell them what the price was. Al had never mentioned it. If anything, they thought he just did favors for free.

The chains wrapped around Al were made in Heaven for exactly this purpose. They burned through Al’s skin. Well, not Al’s skin. Al wasn’t high-ranking enough to have his own body. He had to take up a vessel of one of his victims. The poor chrome dome was suffering inside right along with this demon inside of him.

“I’ll tell them all! I’ll even rip up the contracts!” Al cried out after Alex cracked the whip across Al’s face.

Yeah, he brought one of the whips made back home, too. His brother was good at a lot of things. Making weapons and torture devices was one of his specialties, among others. Gabe had a talent. He was well-versed in Medieval torture, and he liked to recreate some of those devices with his own angel-twist on them.

Like the whip. It dug into the skin, infecting the body with holy water. It was surging through the veins of the demon, burning him from the inside.

“There were no contracts,” Alex spat. “I’ve watched you for weeks. You agree to what they ask and you don’t so much as give them anything to know what to expect. You just send your hounds after them.” Alex had been rescuing unsuspecting people for weeks after he saw the first attack. It was what led him here.

Once he explained it to his father, Alex was given the job.

It’s all he had been doing for the past…well, a long time. If he really wanted to count the number of years it had been, 131 didn’t even feel long enough.

He couldn’t think about her, though. The girl that never got the chance to live. For her sake, he stopped living, too. If he stopped, he saw her face. Those eyes. The hair.

Her body when she first stepped out of the river…

“I’ll give you whatever you want! Please, just make it stop!” He was spitting with every “t” and “p” sound he made. His body was drenched in sweat, some blood, and smelled of urine. Worst of all, he interrupted a very happy memory Alex was having of a certain rare creature.

“You have nothing I want.” He sent the whip back through the air again. The music was loud enough upstairs, thankfully, that no one could hear his screams.

“What do you want from me?” Al cried. He was yelling through the tears, through his pain and agony. “I’ll do anything—get you anything you want. Just p—p—p—please make it stop!”

Usually he liked to drag these out as long as he could, but he wasn’t in the mood tonight. It was anniversary night. The exact day his father pinned him against a tree and told him to leave while he went into her house and…

He hoped this would keep his mind off things, but it didn’t. Al was too little. Scum. There were worse demons out there, but Al was just an easy distraction. Or so he hoped.

Alex tilted his head to the side and smiled. Al cowered in fear, his eyes wide while Alex approached him. He lifted Al’s heavy, sweaty chin and looked directly into his eyes. The eyes of the demon, not the pour soul that Al led to believe he would cure his terminal sickness. “I already said, you have nothing I want.” Alex’s hands lit up and Al’s eyes were the first to show the telltale signs of the demon dying. It was a death that would never allow him to return this side of the grave.

He would forever face torment in the underworld he thought he escaped.

“Pity.” Alex spat on the remains and kicked his shiny shoes. A shiny black and white leather shoe. They were nice…but Alex wouldn’t stoop so low to steal shoes off a dead man’s feet. 

He exited the room to see two of his new recruits waiting just outside the door. Honestly, he couldn’t recall their names anymore.

He didn’t care.

He threw a thumb over his shoulder. “Clean it up, make sure nobody sees it.”

The recruits saluted him and went to work. Really, he was supposed to show them how to get information and get what they wanted from the demon, but Alex made up his mind before tonight. He knew Al didn’t have anything. He had already searched his thoughts and Al was barely out of the gates of Hell making bad deals.

Lucifer ought to maintain better control of his subordinates before God calls it quits on his entire operation. Ole’ Lucy boy liked to think he had a sense of control over things, but everyone knew he had control over nothing.

Probably why he was hiding out.

Alex tipped his hat to the singer on the little stage, passed the waitress, and the gentlemen smoking their cigars on his way out. It didn’t take much for him to charm his way in. Once he made it into the club, it was easy to find Al.

He was the sleeziest looking one in the joint.

“Come back soon, Mr. Pavrati,” one of the blonde waitresses smiled at him. 

It didn’t take a mind reader to see what those eyes were attempting to communicate. He wanted no part of her, and really, angel and human interactions were what led to her…why she couldn’t live…

His fists tightened inside the pockets of his pants and he pulled a small smile toward her. “Evening, ma’am.”

While the girl blushed, he turned and continued out the door and into the cold, dark city. A few cars passed, but not many. It was fairly late and most folks were probably in bed by now.

Instead of taking off for home, he took a walk down the main street. The street lights illuminated some of the stores. He glanced at the windows that had clothing, toys, other material goods.

He craved nothing in the windows. Humans were so consumed with having things. Possessions. Nice clothes, nice home, nice…everything.

None of them deserved it. If anything, Al was doing the world a service. If anyone was willing to ask for things that they couldn’t get themselves, they didn’t deserve to live.

Nora had nothing, asked for nothing, yet never got to live. 

An abomination, his father called her.

A plague, others called her in Heaven.

He knew Nora. He watched her. She never did anything. Maybe a few rainstorms here and there, but that was it. She never hurt anyone. 

She just wanted to be left alone, but also wanted someone to love her.

Had he come out from his hiding spots during those months he knew her, she would have at least experienced something.

He fooled himself for all those months into thinking she was just part of the job, but she wasn’t. His father had him spot on. 

Alex developed some sort of care for the poor, orphaned Nephilim. 

Heaven would never accept her soul past it’s gates, so she had to be suffering an eternity.

For merely  existing.

How could anyone justify such an act?

Alex waited at home for his father to return that day. He paced his father’s study, fighting the urge to throw every book around, toss up the desk.

Part of him hoped his father saw what Alex saw in Nora and he spared her life. Maybe decided to take her in their home. Give her a family more suitable.

He would have accepted her as a sister in a heartbeat. While he considered this possibility, he promised himself he wouldn’t look at her the way he had for those months. He would keep the distance needed.

So she could have family.

It would be hard, but Nora deserved everything she ever longed for. That was for sure.

If his father didn’t take her in, but let her live, he was going to watch over her. Her mom said she could have a guardian angel watch over her, he could do that. He basically was all that time, why not? He’d protect her from anything so she could sleep at night. So she didn’t live in fear. 

His father returned hours later, though, with nothing to say. Alex screamed, shoved his father, demanded to know where she was.

His father didn’t look him in the eye that night.

She was dead.

Of course, his father wouldn’t reveal what he did with her body. He wouldn’t think an abomination deserved any proper burial.

Alex stopped in front of a store he didn’t notice the other nights he strolled this particular street. He could only see his head in the reflection of the glass just over the formal wear. Black with a grey center and a black bowtie. It had a top hat on display next to it.

Next to the tuxedo was the white dress in style for this era. Long, lacy sleeves, a long train behind it. Much like the top hat for the man, the woman would be given a long, white veil with this particular dress. Gown. Whatever they called it.

Nora could never marry. Never be with anyone.

She was an abomination.

Hated.

Far worse, she could never have children. Whatever her children were, they would probably be more powerful than she was.

Uncontrollable, like Nora.

Why couldn’t her father have fallen for another angel? At least she would be happy and alive now.

She could stand in a dress like that in Heaven. Marry the angel of her dreams. Be happy.

He ran through all the other angels yet to pair off. He didn’t like the idea of Nora with any of them. She needed someone who would protect her. Hold her when she had nightmares.

Someone who would appreciate the purple hue of her hair.

No one measured up, not even his brother—who never even knew the girl or heard about her. Alex’s father made it clear no one was to know about Nora if they didn’t already.

Her name was never spoken. Her memory died right along with the girl, herself.

It was so easy to picture her in that dress, and since he stood here with his own reflection beside the dress, he thought about himself in it.

But only for a moment.

He needed to let this go. It was wrong to mourn someone he only spoke to for two minutes. No one should mourn someone for this long.

131 years. 

47,815 days.

Not that he was counting.

If he were, it would be 47,815 days, ten hours, and fifteen minutes.

Again, not that he paid attention to that kind of thing.

Over the years, he returned to that house Nora lived in, but it remained vacant. He released the horses and let them go. They ended up finding a family a few miles down the river and were gladly accepted onto their small farm. They lived a long, happy life with the two children who grew up by the time they passed.

Nora would have liked that they were happy. The horses, not the family. The family probably would have ostracized her, too.

The house was barely still in the wilderness anymore. Towns had grown, more people moved to that area, and they were closing in on the space.

A werewolf pack had moved to the area, too, so they probably would have found her, too. Alex could fight one off at a time to protect her if needed, but not a whole pack, and definitely not an Alpha.

He turned away from the shop and continued down the street. It wasn’t quite raining outside, but there was a light mist in the air. He welcomed the chill. At least he would feel something.

“What are you doing out here?” His brother’s voice surprised Alex. Gabe never came to Earth. Ever. He hated humans—thought they smelled bad. He liked being up where he was more comfortable—around his own kind.

“Just taking a walk. Since when do you come down?”

Gabe wore a suit and a hat like most of the men in the club did. Suspenders and all.

“I saw that you were toasting a demon tonight and I thought about seeing it happen, myself. Maybe even take part,” Gabe shrugged. He pulled a fat cigar out of the inside breast pocket of his jacket.

“Where did you get that?” Alex frowned.

Gabe smiled. “Was having a nice talk with one of the men in the club you were in. You know, I think I misjudged humans. They can be…interesting.”

Alex scowled at his brother. “What do you mean by interesting?”

Gabe bit the cigar between his teeth as though he were going to smoke it. He wouldn’t. He wouldn’t allow something like that into his body. He considered himself too pure. “Eh, they think they have life figured out. Eternity. I had some…conversations with them about their idea of the afterlife. Some had some interesting ideas, the rest of them were just plain disappointing.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah,” Gabe put a hand on Alex’s shoulder. “Anyway, what’s got you all sour and unapproachable this evening?”

Alex shrugged and continued down the street with Gabe walking by his side.

“I talked to the blonde waitress in there. Bonnie, I think she said was her name.” Gabe smiled up at the night sky. “I never thought they could be pretty, either, but man…” he took the cigar out of his mouth and it rested on Alex’s shoulder. “I can see why we aren’t allowed to be here long. Temptation is…tempting.”  Gabe chuckled at his own words.

“You’ve been down here too long, brother.”

“You’re down here constantly. Surely you feel the pull to fall into it too.”

Not really. Alex didn’t find anything here interesting anymore. She wasn’t here. Nora was like a new color in the world. A new species. A new…

Whatever.

She was killed before anyone could see it.

Like artists who aren’t well known until after they die.

Except, no one would know what the world was missing because the legend of Nora the Nephilim died along with her.

“I don’t feel the pull because I’ve had enough practice, Gabe.”

“Right. Well, mother wants you home. Father is going to be late tonight, but she wants us home with her.”

Alex frowned. “Why does she need us?” It wasn’t like he wasn’t going home, just wanted to walk around before he went home and straight to his room. His plan was to fall into bed and sleep. He rarely did so, but on this night, he usually slept the hours away until he was numb and ready to get up for the next day.

Gabe shrugged, “didn’t say, but I think it has something to do with Harmony and her parents waiting in the sitting room…” Alex rolled his eyes and Gabe continued. “She was asking about you.”

Alex knew exactly why. Harmony…he hated the name…she made her feelings known before they even learned to use their wings. If Alex had known how to fly at the mere age of four, he would have flown hard and fast away from Harmony. She was irritating and spent far too much time making sure her hair was perfect and her face. She cared more about how she looked, never even worked for anything. Her parents had been trying to put her with either Alex or his brother for actual centuries now.

She was beautiful, but her heart was…well, she wasn’t as pure. Besides, call him a martyr, but if Nora wasn’t allowed to love anyone, the least he could do for her memory was live his own life the same way she would have had to.

Besides, he hadn’t found anyone interesting enough, anyway.

Especially not Harmony.

“Mother tried to talk them out of it, but the girl is adamant you are just pretending to be hard to get.”

Alex rolled his eyes again. Harmony was relentless. “Why don’t you try to marry her, then?”

Gabe laughed. “Not in a million years, and even after that.”

“Why not? Is there someone else you would want to marry, Gabe?”

Gabe frowned. “Probably not. I’m not interested in all of that.”

Gabe never talked about anyone ever. Maybe… “You know you can talk to me if you…” Alex winced at how uncomfortable this conversation was about to get. “You know, if you aren’t interested in any…females.”

Gabe stopped and pulled his brows together. “I don’t like men, Alex. I’m just not interested in someone yet.”

“I just wanted you to know I’m here. I know we don’t talk about it much back home, but if that’s the way you—”

“I don’t.” Gabe started walking. “Let’s get home so you can send the poor girl home crying again with another one of your heartless rejections.”

Alex took long strides to catch up to Gabe. “They’re not heartless! I just tell her I’m not interested.”

Gabe quirked a brow. “Is it because you aren’t interested in females, Alexandriel?”

Alex shoved Gabe. “Shut up, and don’t call me that.”

“What? Your name?”

“I hate it just like you hate your name.”

Gabe let out a harsh laugh. “Well, maybe after you break Harmony’s heart, you can break mother’s and tell her she should have given us better names. What would yours be if you could choose?”

Alex curled his lips at his brother. “Nothing.”

“Nothing?” Gabe scratched his chin. “That’s different. I mean, I don’t know anyone else with that name. I think I would go with something strong like…”

“Shut up, Gabe. Let’s go.” He wanted to get this over with so he could sleep for the next several hours and dream about a life that could have been.

“You know,” Gabe started, “if you really wanted to get away from Harmony, you should just give up your wings and live on Earth until the girl marries off then come home.”

It wouldn’t be the first time he thought about it. Had he given up his wings back then, maybe he could have fought his father off of Nora. 

“Whatever, let’s just get home.”

***

Harmony left again, tears in her eyes.

One would think the girl would be used to his rejections…or at least stop asking him to propose. 

She wore a gold dress tonight. Pretentious. Though it matched her eyes and hair.

She wasn’t an awful angel. She was nice, but she just had something missing. He didn’t want to stare into golden eyes for the rest of eternity. Didn’t want to touch her golden hair.

He had…a different taste.

His mother, Laila, apologized to her parents and walked them out the door. Gabe retreated to his own room after they got home. Alex waited for the door to shut behind, and his mother offered a sympathetic smile.

“I tried to get rid of them before you got home, but they were adamant you would change your mind this time.”

“I know,” he sighed, leaning against the wall. “Thank you for standing behind me when it comes to this and not trying to force my hand.”

His mother approached and kissed his forehead. Unlike human women, werewolves, and the like, angels were generally all the same height. Equal.

His mother wasn’t nearly a foot shorter than he. She was tall, much like his father. “You shouldn’t spend an eternity in a marriage that isn’t built on solid foundations. You want someone you can stand by and who will stand by you for the rest of time. Someone who is your friend. Someone you truly love.”

“Yeah, thanks.” He turned and started toward his room, but stopped when he recalled something his brother said. “Where’s father tonight?”

His mother shrugged. “He said he would be working late tonight, but didn’t way where.”

His father often worked late, but something about tonight felt off. Maybe it was the anniversary of Nora’s death, but Alex shoved that aside as best he could for a moment. His mother said her goodnight and went to her room. One thing about her, she loved to sleep at night. She didn’t need it, but she was so fond of humans that she did imitate many of their ways. Sleep being part of her daily routine. Alex often wondered if it was her way of passing the time until his father came home.

Once she was gone, Alex walked into his father’s study. He looked through the papers on his desk for any sort of tell as to where he was.

Nothing.

He thumbed through the files in the drawers, seeing nothing.

Except one thing.

A deed. To a house.

Purchased two years ago.

“What purpose would you have for a house…on Earth?”

He looked for the address and committed it to memory. The name was under a John Smith. How very plain of him.

The house was in a small city on the East Coast. 

He pushed the drawer back in place and made sure everything was back in order before leaving his study. There were a handful of reasons his father could be in a house on Earth, even fewer for why he would own one.

None of those reasons were pure. Not holy whatsoever.

Alex shut the door and quietly walked out of the house and headed straight for the house. His father may or may not be there right now, but he was surely going to find out why he has a deed to a house at all.

**

It was a simple street. Not very rich, but not so poor the dogs were running the street. It had street lights. A few steps in front of the door.

It was past midnight and this was the only house with lights on inside.

It had a nice, clean front yard. A second story. A chimney that had smoke coming out the top.

Someone was absolutely home.

Possibly, his father.

The windows were all drawn with curtains, and there wasn’t any movement inside. Alex walked up to the side of the house, listening for anything inside.

That feeling he had when he found the deed, it was something of uncertainty. Now, he started to feel his heart pound in his chest. Something it hadn’t really done since he accepted Nora’s death. Right now, he was feeling it come to life like it had when he started mourning her.

He heard hard grunts inside—it sounded like it was coming from below.

Not anything s****l, he hoped. The grunting sounded female. There was a clashing of metal.

Then he heard his father’s voice. Alex knew his father’s voice all too well.

But it was what he said that made Alex flinch.

“Good, Nora. Good job. I'm so proud of your growth.”

Nora was…alive?

His father not only knew, but he was proud of her? For what?