Angelic

Two voices mingled together as one above me. One dark and dangerous and the other impossibly light and luscious. Both arguing. Both not bothering to whisper. Both talking about moi.

“So she died?”

“Yes.”

“But she’s alive now?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“It is of none of your concern, Kalan.”

“Sheesh, Sebastian.” The deeper of the two voices drew out, clearly annoyed “Can’t you just tell me what happened, why this one gets another chance?” The depth of his voice produced goose bumps along the lengths of my arms, even with my coat still on.

“No.”

“Why not?”

The light voice, the honey sweet voice I recognized from somewhere began to reply. It was the longest he’d spoken since I’d started listening. “Because I know your kind to be manipulative. You will scheme and plot and try to sway her towards you.” The voice, delicate, but full of great strength grew angry. “I won’t have it, Kalan.” I was surprised when the honey laced voice growled out his next words. “So leave, she’s my concern, my assignment. And you know firsthand how well I protect those God appoints upon me.” I noted the voice was fiercely protective. I instantly felt safe, even with two strangers in my home.

“Sebastian,” came a smooth, tempting like liquor reply, “do you ever entertain thoughts of having come with the rest of us? God has so many commandments and regulations but with Luc, everyday is whatever we want it to be. We have no limitations; we need not tame our desires.” Kalan let out a chilling laugh. “As a mortal would say, ‘life with him is a par-tay’.”

“Yes, complete with ideal weather conditions all year long,” was the dry reply to this.

Eagerness burned across my chest. I’d recognized the voice the first time it spoke and the name addressed to it these past two times confirmed it. My guardian angel, spirit guide, figment of my imagination or whatever he was, was here.

In my apartment.

So it hadn’t been a dream. Those foggy pieces I’d awoken to were starting to develop themselves into a full fledged picture of genuine reality.

My eyes begged to feast upon his brilliance again. The memory alone was making my pulse skyrocket. I opened one eye, anticipation crawling all over me. What I wasn’t prepared for was the beauty of the one next to Sebastian. I know he wasn’t Sebastian only because of his eyes. Sebastian’s had been light when I saw him last. This man’s eyes were dark like the night sky. They seemed to be dragging me towards him. He wasn’t looking at me but I could still see the seductiveness dripping in his eyes, could feel the temptation that went with it. Dizzyingly, I felt his presence threaten to pull me in. And his appearance was just as his voice, dark and dangerous. Like an alley you know better than to walk down, darkness lingering in the shadows.

Without warning, I sighed. Both looked down at me. Their faces hovering over me like their voices had as I awoke. In a flash they were both kneeling on either side of me.

“Celeste, are you all right?” Sebastian asked, his voice soothing, full of care. I blinked. This was Sebastian? The same Sebastian from the hallway? I’d been so absorbed in the one beside him I hadn’t truly looked at him until now.

Don’t get me wrong, he was still beautiful, glowing and radiant. But now there was no doubt of his form. He was certainty a man now, not so supernatural as had appeared in the Heavens. Yes, he definitely looked like a man now. A very handsome man I might add. He looked to be around my own age, maybe a few years older at most. I don’t remember recalling what I thought to be his age before. I suppose I had more pressing matters on my mind then, like “Am I dead or am I not dead?”

I snuck a look into Sebastian’s blue eyes peering down at me. Hints of grey, like in mine, looked back at me. But his eyes seemed to be lit from within with some sort of unsnuffable light. Golden specks danced around the sparkling light in his pupils.

“Celeste?” he asked again, concern filling those incredible eyes.

Still caught up in his eyes I murmured “fine.” Why add an unnecessary “I’m” when I could happily spend the brain power on studying him? This beautiful creature with golden hair, short in the back with long side swept bangs in the front. He said something but I wasn’t listening. I had much more important things to do. Like observe this magnificent artwork in my midst. His clothes were… less inspiring, I noticed with a twinge of disappointment. Just faded jeans and a dark grey v neck t-shirt. Simplicity aside, it did nothing to disguise the chiselled muscles bulging down the length of his arms. And oh! When he moved they only intensified… Sebastian shook me gently.

Oh. I guess he was moving to do that. The tingling of his skin brushing against mine made me feel like I’d been electrocuted. Strangely it didn’t hurt.

“Celeste! I asked you a question.”

“Oh.” I blinked. “What?”

“I said, do you realize you have been handed a rare opportunity, one that few ever will?” Sebastian shook his head showing his frustration over having to repeat himself. “A second chance at having breath in your lungs is not something to take lightly, child.”

Child. I wasn’t particularly fond of being called that. Especially when it came from his mouth.

The other face spoke, pulling my attention away from Sebastian’s intense gaze. He twirled his expensive looking aviator glasses with one finger and smiled wickedly. “Here,” Kalan reached up to the table and grabbed the Advil bottle. He ripped off the lid and held it out to me. “Don’t be a quitter now. Finish what you started, Celeste.”

It’s not like I was going to take it from him. But Sebastian, obviously not being able to read minds, snatched it from Kalan.

Kalan’s eyes flared with something.

Annoyance? Fury? But then his piercing eyes calmed down and he shrugged. “Whatever. I guess we’ll just prolong the inevitable a little longer then.” Like his hair, his eyes were dark chocolate. I bet they would appear black, if you weren’t as close as I was right then.

From where I was sprawled on the floor, courteous of my little fainting episode, I had a good view of both men. And I hated to admit it, but Kalan was ravishing. His dark hair was short and spiked at the front. He wore a red and white plaid shirt, and dark wash jeans that showed off sturdy tree trunk like legs. His clothes looked expensive, like something from Abercrombie and Fitch or Guess.

Kalan glanced at his watch, a silvery looking thing. A Rolex or Fossil for sure. “Best be going.” He slapped his knees before standing.

“It would be the highlight of my day.” Sebastian, still kneeling beside me, narrowed his eyes at Kalan.

Kalan shook his head and smiled a skin crawling grin, “I’m not used to seeing you like this, Sebastian. You goody two shoe angels are usually so kind. But only fifteen minutes in human form and already you’re mimicking their speech.” He laughed but his eyes still held a hauntingness to them. “Let me know when you’re done with this God phase of yours. We could use someone strong like you on our side.” Kalan shrugged, “It pains me to say this but you do well at what you do.”

I guess the compliment hidden amongst the initial insult didn’t reach Sebastian. He rose to his feet, placing his hands angrily across his chest. When he spoke his voice was surprisingly as calm as glass lake water. “I assure you this is not a phase as you put it. I am a servant of God and forever will remain one. I was designed to protect, comfort and care for the people God appoints unto me. And I…”

Kalan held up his hand looking bored. “Please, spare me.”