The Angel's Covenant (The Covenant series) (8 page)

"He died that night, and I never forgave myself for not being able to help him. I am a watcher Jake that is my curse. I can see them but I can’t stop them, you can!" Trying to stop shaking, she says "Over there" and points to the side of a building.

Sighing Jake says “I have spent my life ignoring the shadows. My sister sees them too, but our parents thought we were imagining it. I have not interacted with them since I was a child, and they have not messed with me until your rescue.” Jake pulls in and cuts the engine. "What you saw that day with your grandfather, are they the same things we saw?" He asks.

"Oh no, Jake those are the small ones
," she answers climbing out of the jeep.  Pulling her keys, she reaches the door and is not surprised to see it already opened. Drawing his side arm, Jake motions for her to wait as he checks the apartment. The apartment had been tossed. Everything broken, clothes cut, dishes broken, mattress slashed furniture flipped and opened. It was a huge mess, but Heather expected this. Rushing to the bathroom she lifts the lid on the tank of the toilet and says, “Yes! They fell for it."

Returning to the main room of the apartment, Heather grabs a chair that isn't broken and stands it back up. Angling it under a recessed light in the ceiling she looks at Jake and asks "Can I borrow your
knife?" holding her hand out.

Jake shakes his head and says "No way. You have enough injuries. Tell me what you’re doing." Heather says "I hid something in the light." She watches as he pops the can out of the ceiling and reaches in pulling a small package free. It is the size of a cell phone and wrapped in plastic wrap. He hands it down to her pulling two more
out, then puts the light back and jumps down.

"You are full of surprises, aren't you?" Jake asks sarcastically. "Is that why they took you?"
he asks getting angry now. He'd lost a friend, and brother and for what a treasure?"

"Jake I know what you are thinking, but you are wrong. We can't t
alk here, they will be back,” she puts her packages in her bag and starts to head for the door only to freeze.

As the sun
sets outside, shadows fill the room and block the path to the door. Heather knows they have found her and she hopes Jake will be able to stop them.
Walking up behind her Jake asks "What are they?" as he pulls his knife from its hiding place.

"Scout demons. They report to the stronger ones." She backs up from the shadows as they grow stronger in the room. "We have to go!" Heather says fran
tically looking for a way out.  "You’re in no condition to jump from a window, so we have to go through them," he whispers pointing at the door. "I can't Jake, they have come for me. You go, I'll be fine," she says.

Nudging her forward he watches as they lash out at her, one shoves her, while another reaches out and grabs her
ankle, causing her to scream.  "Enough!" he yells and watches as they shrink back as if afraid.

Putting his arm around Heather he slowly walks forward. The shadows separate moving away from him, only to close in behind them as they walk forward.
Once they reach the hallway, they break into a run, heading for the jeep. Helping her inside, Jake climbs in and starts the engine. "Hurry Jake, it’s not over yet," Heather says desperate to be away.

Pulling out Jake watches the shadows grow behind them. "How do we lose them, Heather?"
he asks.
"They will not attack in crowds, usually. Jake you have the ability to destroy them! Watchers guide and watch over lost souls but keepers, protect the watchers," she says looking behind them.  "Protect us from demons, I don't know how! Why are they attacking you Heather? It was the same way in the caves. Is it because of what you have in that bag?"

"Yes and No!”
Heather screams as a shadow demon in the shape of a dog launches its self through the window on her side. It wraps his jaws around Heathers good arm as Jake slams the brakes on. Jake stabs his knife down into the dogs head and watches stunned as it explodes!

Heather is bent over cradling her arm, breathing fast. Crying now, she looks at him as asks "Why won't you believe what you see with your ow
n eyes!"
"I believe you Heather," he says shakily. "Let’s get back to base." Driving fast Jake pulls away and tells Heather to hold on.

Thinking quickly he calls his commanding officer and tells him they were attacked again. They grant permission to house her on base until her f
light leaves the next day.

Pulling up to the barracks Jake sees Seth standing at the curb. Parking he tells Heather to wait in the jeep, while he checks the room. Walking into the building
with Seth following, his CO stops him for more details about the attack and catching Seth’s eye he motions outside with a nod of his head.

Seth hurries out to the Jeep, only to stop at the sight of three soldiers helping her with her bags. Smiling at them she cradles her arm, as they help her. Steaming now, he walks over and blocks the path with his large body. Dropping her bags they scatter, laughing. Seth stares at her for a minute, then picks up her bag
s and he says "Follow me"

"This is our best room,
" he says showing her to a room with a cot set up. Dropping her bags on the floor, he turns around ready to give her hell. Heather bursts into tears and throws herself into his arms, shaking and crying uncontrollably.

"Easy now darling,
your okay," Seth says. Picking her up, he crosses to the cot and sits with her in his lap. She is buried in the crook of his neck with her good arm hooked around his waist. Waiting for her tears to slow, Seth sighs. Looking up Seth sees Jake standing guard outside the door. Glaring at him, he says "One of you had better have an explanation as to What the Hell is going on here!"

Jake smiles
having no intention of fighting his larger friend, "Seth I took Heather to her apartment, at the Generals request to pick up her things. We were attacked."

Slowly standing Seth sets Heather's feet on the ground steadying her. "Did it not occur to you to take some backup? That she might s
till be a target!” Seth roars. Feeling slightly embarrassed Jake says, "We wouldn't have been there if Ms Dimples didn't need her bags."

The yelling escalates until Heather whispers, "Excuse me, But I think I'm bleeding." Seth and Jake whip around and stare at her. Blood is seeping through her blouse and down her good arm; Seth catches her as she
crumples to the floor.

"Damn!" Jake yells. Rushing out he grabs a first aid kit and follows Seth as h
e carries her to the infirmary. The two men are pushed away as the Doctors take over. Twenty minutes later, the nurse comes out and says "She's okay, she popped some of her sutures in her shoulder, and we stapled those. Her right arm has bite marks of some kind, any idea what kind of animal did that?"

Glaring at Jake, Seth stomps behind the curtain ignoring the Doctors and nurses heading straight for Heat
her.

Heather watches while they clean the puncture wounds flinching, when they irrigate the area. "Can't you give her something for pain? Seth asks the nurse.
Heather looks up, and says "I need to be awake Seth. It's not that bad, really." Leaning her head back she stares up at the ceiling and wishes things were different. She would jump into that mans arms and never let go. Probably scare him to death she thinks laughing a little. Looking over at Seth she stares at him, he's so beautiful with his black hair, brown eyes, barrel chest, and large strong hands, Oh God; she thinks I am so screwed. She wipes at a tear that rolls down her cheek and waits for them to finish. Laughing and crying at the same time.

As her tears subside, she tells the Doctor "I am not staying here, I have a perfectly good co
t and I just need some sleep."

Escorting Heather back to her room; Seth shows her where the bathroom is, and brings her some water and food. "You need to eat, and take this pain pill."
"No, what I need is to see Jake," she states looking at Seth, hating herself for hurting him.

He goes perfectly still, then turns and leaves without another word. Jake returns a few minutes later to see Heather struggling with her shoes. "Seth said you wan
ted to see me,” he says bending down to pull off her shoe.

"Thank you, Jake I need to give you something. Consider it a gift. Can you hand me my bag please?"
"Heather you really don't have to give me anything; I was just doing my job,” Jake says uncomfortably.
"Right" turning around Heather pulls out the package from the ceiling in her apartment and holds it out to Jake. "I need you to hold onto this and keep it safe for me."

"What is it?
” he asks hesitating. "You know what, never mind. I don't want to know," He continues taking it and putting it in his pocket. Watching her sway on her feet he says, "You need to sleep. You will have a guard posted at all times, in case you need anything."

Stepping outside he is not surprised to find Seth waiting for him. "I will take first watch" Jake says.
"Last time I left her with you, she was attacked; I don't think I trust you with her, Jake," he says stepping into his space.

Looking up at his friend, Jake asks him "Are you stupid, and blind? She's crazy about you!"
he says glaring at him. “She's just too terrified to admit it, Seth. She's in trouble, what happened in that cave was just the tip of the iceberg."

Running his hands over his face Seth is frustrated. "I was there too, Jake. Whatever she did in that cave changed me. I have been seeing things that I've never seen before
," he whispers. "I want her to trust me and tell me what the hell is going on!"

"Once we are on the plane, you will have the time you need to talk to her
," Jake says. "Try to get some rest Seth; you’re going to need it. She's a handful, and she's trying to protect you."
"While she's busy protecting everyone else, who is looking out for her?" Seth asks.

The first shift passed uneventful, Seth relieved
Jake around two am. Seth intended to keep it professional and keep his distance, but he found that he couldn't do it. Leaning over her, he covered her with his jacket, and watched with a smile as she curled her good hand up in it and sighed. Mine, he thinks. That's what she is; now he has to convince her.

Feeling much more optimistic, he turns to go back to his post and sees a shadow moving in the room. Keeping his body between Heather and the shadow he watches as it takes the shape of a man with a black hat and long black trench coat. It has no facial features except red glowing eyes. Pointing his shaded finger at Heather, she starts to struggle in her sleep. Grasping her hands around her throat she fights for breath as though being strangled, Seth launches himself at the shadow only to hear a scream as it blows to mist. He lands hard in the hallway, and twisting around he watches the Shadow
man reform and fade away.

Heather is sitting up coughing with a hand on her throat, staring at Seth with horror filled eyes "What have I done to you?" Dropping her face to her hands, she cannot look at him.
     "Heather, tell me what's going on," Seth says looking at Jake as he comes running in.

Curling up on the cot with a cup of hot coffee in her hand, Heather looks at the men in front of her. They were looking to her for answers and she is not sure how they will react. "It will be easier for me to show you, take me to the morgue. I need to see Craig's body" she says standing up.
"NO!" they say in unison.

Heather holds up her hand and marches over to the two giants. "Like it or not, you need answers, and I am sick of being attacked! Take me to the morgue before
they come back with more!”

"Fine" Jake says, "but we have to be quick I don't know how I will explain this." Jake leads the way out the back door into another hanger. Seth follows sticking close to Heather. The frigid air in the room is a welcome relief. Four wooden coffins are lined up with American flags folded on top of each. A name is carved into the foot of each one. Looking around Heather feels sad at the loss of lives but honored to be able to hel
p these lost souls cross over.

"Seth I need you to sit on the floor and hold me
. No matter what don't let go. Jake you will be on guard, please don't let them take my body," she whispers to him.

Sitting on the floor of the small room, she leans back against Seth and closes her eyes.
She immediately feels the rhythm of his heart beating with hers. Smiling softly she hears his intake of breath and she knows he is with her. Rising out of her body she looks down at the scene below, she see Jake standing in shock looking at them and the coffins in the room. Then she hears a noise and follows it down to Craig's box.

Seth is watching and he feels Heather's breathing
slow and her body goes limp. "Heather" he asks shaking her, he looks at Jake. "What's happening?" he asks starting to panic.
Jake whispers "It's okay, I can see them. It's amazing, she’s talking to Craig."

Frustrated Seth looks down at Heather and wishes he could be with her. To his astonishment he feels a snap of electricity and with a jolt finds he has lifted out of his body. His limbs feel heavy, unable t
o move he watches Heather.