Angel Switch

Chapter 4 – Connecting Dots

Gasps and murmurs, like I could be a kidnapper, flowed in the nannies and nurses' thoughts as Liam entrusted his baby to me. As I cut my connection with him, he blinked his eyes, but he could not take Zion back. He watched as I held his baby in my arms.

I started cooing the baby in my arms as I examined him the fastest possible way. My eyes narrowed, and my smile disappeared as I saw a wolfsbane leaf, not visible to human eyes, stuck in his tummy.  It was illuminating with poison that caused him pain, and how it got there was a good question. I took it off and then breathed on Zion. Anyone would think I was kissing him on the forehead, but I am giving him the gift of healing and protection. 

He started to calm down, and as I hum, he began to fall asleep. People around me gasped, seeing how easy it was for me to stop Zion from crying.

 "How did you do that?" asked Liam as he watched his son drift to sleep in my arms.

With Zion now sleeping, the lobby was quiet again, so it was easy for me to hear everyone's thoughts. But not Liam's. Like Nathalie's mind, it was quiet, as well. What's the possibility that both brains cannot be accessed? 

Avoiding his gaze, I gave Zion back to him, who is now breathing deeply while making cute, little sucking movements with his mouth. I touched his forehead with my finger, giving him sweet dreams, which made the baby smile. 

"He's just not comfortable," I answered, then turned my back on him.

'So am I.' I wanted to add, but the words remained unsaid as I went back to the chair I was sitting at a while ago. 

The room began to feel cold. I looked around, but I was the only one who noticed. Something is coming. I look down and close my eyes. Whatever it was, I had to be ready. Seeing Liam distracts me.

"Liam," greeted the woman who had just come in.

"Amanda," He acknowledged, nodding to the young doctor.

Like the others, I raised my head and turned to where the voice came from.

Standing in front of him now is an undeniably beautiful, young doctor, maybe in her early thirties. She flipped her coal layered long hair, like in a shampoo commercial. Anyone can be enchanted by her almost perfect looks.   

"Hi, Zion!" she touched his pink cheek, then hold the baby's hands still covered with mittens. "Hmmm," she said, smelling Zion's hands, "I smell an angel," she hissed, while her eyes searching. She turned her head to the front desk, then to the people in the lobby.

I squinted my eyes, waiting for her to pounce on me, but she could not see me in Nathalie's body. My heart was pounding, and I could feel the familiar fear that I felt when I first assume this body.

"That's Dr. Amanda Lee," whispered Nina as she hands me the bottled water. "Isn't she beautiful?"

I nodded to show her my agreement. She was a perfect epitome of true beauty, but I wish I could tell Nina how I truly see the young doctor.

As Dr. Lee invited Liam and Zion to go to her office, she looked back once again. Her feline, cunning eyes, yellow but dull searched for an angel again. When she thought there was none, she flipped her hair, making some lifeless strands fall on the floor. 

She must have used a potion to hide her time-decayed and gruesome face, but she cannot fool my eyes, for I can see clearly their kind.

I gritted my teeth and clenched my fist as I watch the nurse close Dr. Lee's office door behind her. 

'Haamiah!' I called in urgency.

Maya, who was quietly playing with her doll, turned to me.

'Really?' I raised my brows at the little child. 'Of all people here... Maya?'

'Her heart is pure, it's easier,' Haamiah answered. The girl walks towards me, leaving her doll behind. "Miss, can you please accompany me to the restroom,"

"Ok," I said, then turn to Nina who is now busy playing a game on her smartphone. "If his dad look for him, just tell him where we are,"

"Sure! Sure!" she answered without looking at me.

Haamiah, now in Maya's little body, and I walked into an empty hallway. We have to hurry because he won't be able to stay long in the child's body.

"What am I dealing with, Haamiah?" This is the second time I asked that question. The first time was when the soul collector took Corynne's soul away. "Why is there a demon-witch in this hospital? Why does Nathalie need to see Dr. Amanda Lee? At least tell me some clues."

"The loss of balance of good and bad. Darkness. War." When Maya blinked, I knew right away, Haamiah's gone.

'The loss of balance of good and bad. Darkness. War.' Words echoed in my mind when I heard Liam's angry voice.

"Where are you taking my daughter?" He rushed to us and snatched away Maya's hand from me.

"Daddy," Maya raised her head like she woke up from a dream, "I ask her to take me to the restroom, but she doesn't know where,"

I leaned on the cold wall, watching them talk. My mind is filled with what Haamiah told me.

Liam kneeled down to meet her level. "I told you not to go with strangers and," he looked around, "Where is your nanny?"

"I don't know," she answered, fidgeting her hands and feet, then she looked at me. "she's not a stranger, daddy," She looked uncomfortable as she try to hold herself, but she couldn't stop making movements.

"Can I take her to the restroom now?" I interrupted them and extended my hand to Maya. "Or... you can take her yourself,"

The restroom is at the end of the hallway, but there were only two signs. One for male and the other for female. The gender-inclusive toilet can only be found on all floors, but the one available is at the other end of the hall.

He was still reluctant, but he let go of her daughter's hand. He could see the relief in his daughter's face as she run to me.

Maya took my hand, and we hurry to the restroom. When she was done peeing and washing her hands, she held my hand again. It was strange she wasn't talking, but she kept on blabbering things in her thoughts like unicorns, fairies, and elephants. 

As expected, he was patiently waiting for us outside. He was leaning his back on the wall to where I was a while ago, with arms crossed and eyes not leaving the doorway of the restroom.

"Daddy!" Maya run to him as we got out. He opened his arms wide to welcome, and carry her at the same time.

Liam kissed her on the cheek, as if he missed her daughter that much, then walked away without even thanking me.

I sneered. He may be a rare jewel for me, but he's also the most arrogant person I've ever met. No thank you, nor even a sign of acknowledgment for my good deeds. What's wrong with humans? I rolled my eyes as I followed them in the same direction. I don't want to waste time looking for Nina. I still have my next task to do.

The room was getting colder and the colder it gets, I feel more demons around the area, and I had to remind myself to be more vigilant. This time I have to be ready... to be cautious.

I almost bumped into Liam's back when he stopped abruptly. I had to move back one step when he turned to me. He was staring at me as if I have some secret schemes to harm his family.

"Are you following us?" he accused, which made me raise my brows.

"Er.. no!" I answered, surprised that he has to make a conversation with me when he already has Maya in his arms. 

"You think I don't know about your schemes?" His voice was low and angry.

I pressed my lips. It's frustrating enough that I couldn't read his mind, and now I don't understand the scheme he was accusing me of. I groaned and shook my head in disbelief, until I heard someone's thoughts, as loud as Maya's, behind him.

'Why is dad having an argument with her secretary?'

I tilted my head to see the person behind Liam. Her resemblance with Maya and his father is proof that they're related. So, I am Liam's secretary. Interesting.

"Hi, Nathalie!" she greeted, then turning to her surprised father. "Dad," she said, kissing him on the cheeks.

"Hi, Sophie!" I greeted back. I curved a smile on my lips.

She rolled her eyes and grinned, "You're really good. When can I outsmart you?"

I chuckled, and I wish to tell her she can't. Shelly, her twin sister, didn't bother to walk with her. She went straight to the waiting area in the lobby, still busy chatting with her friends on her smartphone.  My short conversation with Sophie zipped Liam's mouth for a while.

"Ah..." Liam mumbled, but I raised my hand to stop him.

My eyes widen in surprise as I saw shadows of demon spirits hovering in the area. They were like black smoke moving really fast in the air. They kept on saying the same thing.

'Find the ticket, where's the ticket?'

 I forced a smile on Sophie, "I'll see you soon, Sophie," then turn to Liam, "See you, tomorrow boss." I turned my back on him, not giving him a chance to talk.

The time slowed down as the blazing sword appeared in my hand. The demons shrieked in surprise when the blinding light from my sword spread the place, that each flees in different openings of the building. In a second, the puff of black smoke vanished. I was breathing heavily that I prudently wait, but the temperature of the room was becoming normal.

As my weapon disappears in my hands, the time went back to its normal speed.

"Nathalie," Nina called and she just came from Dr. Lee's office. "I checked with Dr. Lee's assistant, you don't have an appointment with her. Should I make an appointment?"

I turned to her and shook my head. "I just remember now, I didn't make an appointment." I took my purse and planner that I left on the chair. "Maybe next time. Let's go, we have some important things to do."

'Find the ticket, where's the ticket?' Whatever it was, I had to find it first.