Atonement (Heaven Sent Book 1) Read online

  “I know, but that’s not how the three of us work best. We need to talk it out, catch our breath, strategize, form a plan before we go looking for answers,” Deb said.

  “Agreed, but I have a hunch we’re going to find trouble when we go looking for answers,” Gen added.

  Kelly agreed. “Lately, I feel trouble is everywhere. We don’t need to go knocking on doors to find it. More encounters with Hell, increases in demon possession, not to mention whatever this thing is you’re about to dump on us. Something is definitely going on, and it doesn’t feel natural.”

  As they boarded the water taxi, Gen was happy to find they were the only passengers. The Captain was an older man, with a round weathered face that was partially shielded by the brim of a sea-battered baseball hat. He made quick work untying the boat from the dock, oblivious to the noticeable swaying from the choppy water. The briskness of the ocean breeze ruffling Gen’s hair stung her cheeks and reminded her that summer was still many weeks away.

  The engine roared as they pulled away heading straight across the harbor to the Seaport district. As the sun-bleached planks of the wharf disappeared, Gen took a deep breath of salt air; danger was coming. Kelly was right, Gen thought, the trouble Hell was causing did seem to be everywhere. Evil felt like it was encroaching. She could sense it, and so could her sisters.

  Kelly knew something was wrong. Gen’s eyes closed as her hair billowed in the rawness of the April wind. Her sister appeared outwardly calm and confident, but Kelly knew different.

  Gen not only intruded on my day off, but brought everyone else with her, obviously this is bad, but what could be worse than a Hell Fighter on Earth? Or their marks going off at an alarmingly high rate for months on end? Kelly wondered.

  She wasn’t looking forward to the conversation that was going to accompany what otherwise should be a happy lunch together, but knew they had no choice.

  It took mere minutes for the driver to maneuver across the bay. He cut the engine and the sloshing of the ocean swayed the boat back and forth. The potbellied captain expertly pulled alongside the pier, as the rocking of the buoys clanged between the boat and the posts of the dock. The captain hopped over the side and tied off the boat, then he opened the small gate allowing their exit off the pier.

  Deb paid the man in cash and then the three of them made their way up the short, but steep incline to the busy waterfront district above. Though lunch was over and dinner was still several hours away, the restaurants were busy. This part of the city bustled with both tourists and employees from nearby businesses. Kelly requested a table outside in the sun and was pleasantly surprised at how much warmer it was from the other side of the bay. Fortunately, there was distance between them and the other occupied tables. Kelly felt they would be able to speak more freely to one another about the problem at hand. Spotting a young waitress heading their way, Kelly pondered her drink order.

  “What can I get you ladies to drink today?” the waitress asked.

  “We’ll have three of your top-shelf margaritas with chips and salsa,” Kelly answered.

  “I’ll put that right in and be back to get your order,” the waitress replied.

  “That was efficient,” Gen remarked.

  “Well, you said we didn’t have a lot of time and I’m still hungry, a few house chips from Jake’s does not a lunch make,” Kelly retorted.

  “I’m fine with whatever,” Deb added.

  “Great, I know Kelly already knows what she wants so she can order the same for us when the waitress returns. I’m going to get started with what’s going on.” Gen paused to double check the proximity to the nearby customers then began. “I went to Harry’s this morning, went there twice actually, the first time he was out buying fertilizer and potting soil which is why he wasn’t home. It was bothering me that we hadn’t heard from him, especially after the fire.”

  “Yeah, I would have bet he would have been with us at the fire, and if not, I expected him to connect with one of us later,” Kelly responded.

  “It is unusual that it’s been this long since we’ve seen him and so much has happened without his guidance,” Deb added.

  “I agree, that’s why I finally went looking for him today. I found him and after I helped him in the garden for a bit we went inside. I asked him where he’s been, but he said he’s been right where he always is, home,” Gen told them.

  “Wait,” Kelly said leaning in toward Gen. “So, he didn’t acknowledge missing a major battle?”

  Kelly pulled herself back as the friendly waitress returned with their drinks and dropped off the chips and salsa.

  “Are you ready to order?” The waitress asked. “Or do you need more time?”

  “I think we’re good for now, we may order something else in a little bit,” Kelly answered.

  “No problem, take your time. My name’s Melanie, just flag me when you’re ready,” she replied.

  Once Melanie had made her way back inside the restaurant Kelly continued. “How could our Angel not know about a pretty serious infraction by Hell?”

  “I don’t know. There wasn’t enough time to get into it, because while I was at his house, Lacey showed up. She was definitely surprised to see me there and actually asked Harry if it was alright to speak with me,” Gen recounted.

  “What, why wouldn’t it be?” Kelly chuckled.

  “I don’t know all the rules for Historians,” Deb replied. “But I think it’s frowned upon for a Historian to fraternize with, well non-Historians.”

  “Well she didn’t seem to have a problem going to Harry’s house, would that not be considered fraternization?” Kelly argued.

  “We’re getting off track. We can debate the merits of who should be friends with whom later,” Gen scolded. “She came there because she claimed a demon killed Sebastian, her mentor. He was a Historian of the highest order according to Harry.” Kelly could scarcely believe what Gen was telling them.

  “Hold on a minute, Lacey is saying she has proof that Sebastian has been murdered?” Kelly asked. She could feel her head start to ache as her eyes darted back and forth between her two sisters.

  This is bad, I mean I knew it would be bad, but this is really, really, bad, Kelly thought. This is yet another battle brought right to our doorstep. What the heck is going on around here?

  “That can’t be right,” Deb interjected. “We would have heard about it. Harry or someone would have come to us. They would have to, right?”

  “Lacey says she witnessed it herself,” Gen answered.

  “Oh no,” Deb murmured.

  “Before either of you pepper me with more questions,” Gen said with hands raised in an attempt to stop the onslaught, “that’s all I know. That’s as far as it went. I made her stop talking and brought her and Harry to the shoe shop. Lacey came across as fearful at Harry’s house. She was worked up believing Sebastian’s murder wouldn’t be avenged. I think the possible injustice of it all was what gave her the courage to go to Harry. I didn’t want her to have to re-tell it and I was worried that in that state she would miss something, something important.”

  “You are so patient. I would have grilled her a hundred times before I ever even considered calling for you guys,” Kelly retorted.

  “Well, this is going to be a real test of our family’s patience as we wait for Lacey to wake up from her drunken stupor so she can tell us the rest of what she knows,” Gen said.

  “I think we need to get going,” Kelly told them. “As much as I would love to order fish tacos, I think we need to get home and start piecing things together. Everything that has been happening cannot be a coincidence. All these things have to be connected somehow.”

  Kelly’s stomach roared and she felt it rumble. She had eaten most of the chips and salsa, but still the hunger panged.

  “We have more time,” Gen said to her. “Let’s order something to eat and you can tell us all about Jared while we wait for it to come out. Lacey isn’t waking up for at least another forty-five
minutes.”

  Kelly motioned for the waitress. When Melanie arrived at the table, Kelly ordered several appetizers and another round of drinks for all of them.

  They want to know about Jared, where the heck do I begin? Kelly crossed her arms and pushed back into her chair preparing to be interrogated.

  “Great,” Gen said, “food is in and more tables have cleared out, now spill it. What exactly happened in the school with Jared?”

  Kelly felt a tightening in her stomach, just the thought of the Hell Fighter made her blood boil. She could sense the anger building and had to push the memory down.

  “Well, honestly it was brief, but …” Kelly paused, trying to pull the right words together. “It was intense, that’s how I would describe it.”

  “Intense how?” Gen inquired.

  “You seem to have no problem grilling me, Genevieve!” Kelly blurted.

  “We have been patient, Kell and believe me I wish I could give you an eternity of time to get through this, but unfortunately, I don’t think we have it,” Gen answered. Kelly saw the compassion in her sister’s eyes but still felt as if she was on the hot seat.

  Kelly sighed and let her arms fall into her lap as she slumped back against the chair. “I know, I know, it’s just that I haven’t fully wrapped my mind around it all. He’s been gone for so long and I worked hard to accept that. I didn’t mourn, I held on to the happiness, but now that he’s here, I’m feeling exposed and unsure. Where has he been and why is he back?”

  “You love him,” Deb said. “He obviously loves you. This doesn’t have to be a bad thing.” Deb reached over and covered Kelly’s hand with her own.

  The warmth strengthened her. “It’s just a lot to process. He was in the fire and I am assuming he used a shield to protect us when the demon exploded into true form. I have no idea how he did that. He should have been burned alive from that blast. Early on, he helped me escape so that I had a fighting chance to beat the demon, but then he showed back up and killed the newborn, like it was nothing. He shouldn’t have been able to do any of those things. Then, he kissed me.” Kelly felt herself drift back to that moment.

  He kissed me, and in that moment all his other kisses flooded my memory as if unleashed from a hidden box. How could I have left them locked up for so long? she chided herself.

  “He gave you a ring, he won’t be gone for long. He’ll want the promise that goes with it.” Gen’s statement broke Kelly’s train of thought.

  “Well, I hope it’s soon, he needs to answer a few things,” Kelly said.

  “We can talk more about Jared later. What are we going to do about Lacey?” Kelly asked Gen.

  “First, we need to hear her story, all of it. Not the bits and pieces I got at Harry’s,” Gen said.

  “We also need to talk to Harry again. We need to understand what would cause Angel interference. I am unaware of anything earthly that would have that kind of power,” Kelly insisted.

  “I know, but he was unaware of both Sebastian and the fire,” Gen stated.

  “That means something is blocking signals, which I assume we give off when we are in danger. It’s also blocking communication to and from Heaven?” Deb questioned.

  “I agree with the blocking and interfering, but what if whatever it is, is already doing damage?” Kelly asked. “I mean, you feel the anger in the air, don’t you?”

  “Yes, something is causing people to inflict more damage on one another than normal,” Deb said. “I’ve seen an increase in anger, intolerance, and cruelty. Something is brewing, but what?”

  “I don’t know, but brewing is a good word,” Gen commented. “It’s like something is stirring things up. People who would normally walk away from a fight, are engaging. People who would normally yell, are getting in physical altercations. People who normally punch, are killing. There is a definite escalation that has accompanied this heaviness in the air.”

  Heaviness, more like Hellishness, a precursor of things to come, Kelly suspected.

  “You’re right, except, it’s not a consistent heaviness,” Kelly said. “Today for instance, the sense of evil nearby has been strong, it started at the shoe shop and it’s still here.” Kelly paused as she heard police sirens approaching.

  Deb pointed toward the bar. “They’re coming for the drunk guy at the bar. The bartender shut him off, I’ve been watching them, waiting to see what would happen. He’s become more belligerent and they gave up and called the police.”

  “The anxiety,” Kelly added, “the adrenaline or sixth sense, whatever you want to call it, we feel when this heaviness occurs is real. But it doesn’t last; it will suddenly dissipate, and for no apparent reason.” Kelly was sure that came out wrong and that her sisters wouldn’t understand, but then she saw recognition cross Gen’s face.

  “You’re right, it does seem to come and go, and it’s not attributed to us encountering something,” Gen commented

  “What does that mean?” Deb asked

  “It means something’s either combating it, or—” Gen stopped short as the police entered the restaurant heading for the bar.

  “What’s the matter, Gen?” Kelly asked

  Gen looked around, away from the chaos of the police scene inside. “I think it’s dissipating right now,” Gen replied, then added “Do you feel it fading away?”

  “Oh it is, I feel calm, warmth even,” Deb commented.

  “It’s getting stronger now. I feel like something from Heaven just walked—” Kelly jolted to her feet. “Antonio, I can’t believe it!” She dropped her napkin, hopped over the red velvet rope dividing the seating area from the pier, and ran. Just as she neared Antonio, he opened his arms and scooped her up.

  “I can’t believe it, where have you been? I’ve missed you. Who are you with? Is Maxine here with you? Of all places I run into you, a tequila bar, seriously?” Kelly could feel her cheeks were flush. Antonio wore loose fitting cargo shorts, boat shoes, and a white cotton shirt that looked like he just stepped off an exotic island. His bronze skin, bulging muscles, and chiseled chin commanded the adoration of every woman nearby.

  “Ciao Bella,” Antonio replied as he returned the warm hug Kelly had greeted him with.

  Stepping back Kelly watched him lean down and lower his voice. “I wish this were a social visit, my old friend, but it’s not. I’ve been tracking something between realms, and it’s led me here, to you, to all of you.” Antonio pointed past her to the table she was sharing with her sisters.

  “Oh my goodness, I was so caught off guard seeing you here I lost my manners. Please, come and meet my sisters.” Kelly grabbed his hand and pulled him toward their table.

  As they passed the few remaining occupied tables Kelly smirked as she noticed the number of women admiring Antonio on their way by.

  He is delicious, ladies. I don’t blame you one bit. I get lost in his presence myself, Kelly gushed to herself.

  “Gen, Deb, this is Antonio.”

  Gen’s eyebrows arched upward. “The Antonio?” Gen asked with a mix of confusion and awe.

  “The Arch Angel Antonio?” Deb followed.

  “Yes, one in the same! Kelly sang her reply and sat down, urging Antonio to do the same.

  Kelly snickered as she saw Melanie make a b-line toward their table. She had no doubt Antonio’s Heavenly attributes were the reason for the waitress’ renewed attention.

  “Can I get you something to drink, sir?” The waitress practically cooed the request.

  “Oh, no thank you. I won’t be staying long, just stopping to catch up with an old friend,” Antonio replied.

  “Oh, just a friend,” Melanie flirted while twirling her hair.

  “Yes, a dear friend, but thank you for checking,” Antonio answered curtly.

  The dejected waitress disappeared back inside, and Kelly smiled at her friend.

  “So, you are tracking something evil between realms and it brought you to us?” she asked him.

  “Well, yes and no. I was tracking this
energy source through realms and it brought me to this pier. I look over and there you are, in human view no less.” Antonio’s voice had the hint of concern and scorn at the same time.

  “Well, now that you’ve lost it, I think you should spend the rest of the afternoon with us,” Kelly insisted.

  “I haven’t lost it, perhaps you have?” Antonio’s bright brown eyes betrayed confusion as he looked at Kelly.

  “We never had it, we’ve just been hanging here, drinking margaritas and contemplating love, life, and happiness,” Kelly replied.

  Concern replaced the look of confusion on Antonio’s face. Kelly felt her sister’s anxiety levels increase, and they saw it wash over him as well.

  “What’s going on, is the something you were following here?” Gen asked. “If it is, we can’t feel it Antonio.”

  “Yes, if you can’t sense him, then he must be cloaking, but I can see him. I don’t know what he is, but he is powerful, more powerful than what should be here,” Antonio relayed.

  “What do we do?” Deb asked.

  “We aren’t exactly in a position to do anything right now,” Gen declared.

  “I have the power to drop the demon’s cloak,” Antonio told her. “He will probably leave as soon as he knows you can see him, but at least you’ll have an idea of it. Maybe it helps you figure out why he’s following you.”

  “Drop it,” Kelly demanded.

  Gen was about to protest the decision when suddenly the form of a large demon took shape at the end of the pier, leering at them. Deb shuddered at the size of him, then she projected her shield over them, a defensive reflex.

  “This was a bad idea, we are vulnerable in this state, Kell,” Gen scolded.

  The demon was large, easily seven feet tall by Kelly’s estimation. He wore a long white trench coat that covered what she guessed were multiple weapons. His green eyes pierced the dullness that clung to him. He wore his bleach blonde hair slicked back; his whole appearance made him seem translucent.