My Soul to Save (Soul Keeper) (4 page)

My skin ignites as Sam takes me in, his eyes peeking over the spatula tell me just what he's thinking. A flare on the grill shoots up flames behind him,
and he turns away to adjust the burgers. I glide backwards in the pool letting the cool water rush over my hair. Emily is lounging on a raft with Jesson clinging to the middle, they're lost in conversation. I imagine he's enjoying his newfound freedom.  I wonder if he's on a mission.

I blink into the red
sky world and find Elena and Inara dangling their feet in the deep end. Will soars overhead, looking like some exotic creature with the contrast of his dark as night skin, against the pallor of his pristine white wings.

I swim closer to the ladies. "Is Jesson Emily's Keeper?"
I direct to Inara, favoring her more for honesty.

"No."

"Then why is he still hanging around in my high school?"

"It's classified, I believe that's what you would call it down here."

I know all too much about classified missions, it's all my father ever went on. Suddenly Brutus jumps into the pool and retrieves my shark shaped chlorinator.

"Brutus! No, leave it!" He promptly expels it, missing its
fin and full of holes. With a fresh kill, he exits the pool and shakes off as Sam lifts the platter of meat to save it. Having a dog is great, I highly recommend it to anyone who wants their home to have that particular wet canine aroma peppered with a light dusting of black hair. It's very up and up.

"Marco?"

"Polo!" Mia and Maci shout across the pool at each other. A round of squeals and giggles follow as Mia finally tags Maci. I stretch my arms over the sides of the pool and take it all in. This is what I hope the future holds for all of us. I capture this moment in time, with my mental snapshot.

"Burgers are done!"

"Brutus no!" We all shout as we see the dog go for the plate as if it were chow-time, and we just decided to serve
him
at the bar. Sam lifts the plate so fast he loses a burger. The dog inhales it without chewing.

"Okay, salad for me. Thanks
boy."

"Don't worry, I made an extra just for him." I walk around the bar and kiss Sam chastely on the lips.

"Thank you for cooking for us, it smells delicious," I whisper in his ear.

"
You're welcome."

"Jesson would you help me get everyone's drinks?" I ask. He nods and throws his towel around his shoulders following me inside. I slide the door shut and make sure all heads are accounted for outside. He rakes the towel across his black hair and spikes it up.

"Hey I need to talk to you alone as soon as you have time."

"I figured as much. How about I come back later tonight, after I drop Emily off?"

"That would be excellent, and Jesson."

"Yeah?"

"Don't tell anyone."

"I would never."

I pass out lemonade at the table, and Jesson clears his throat.

"May I say the blessing?" he asks. I nod, my eyes a little wider than usu
al. I'm not used to that, but I do wish I'd start making it more of a habit. A smile warms his face as if this were his intention.  I grab hold of Sam's hand and then he takes Mia's, before long we've made a circle. The other Keepers bow their heads.

“Lord, our God we thank you for the
blessing of this delicious meal Sam has burned for us.” He smiles up at Sam. “These beautiful friends to enjoy it with, against a backdrop of one of your most glorious sunsets to date. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.”

He says only a few words but it touches something in me to the point of drawing tears and I blink them away before anyone sees. But
he
notices, and that same heartfelt smile beams over to me. Jesson has always been the same, before when he was a fallen, and now with his grace fully restored. How could he have survived down there, and still come back so normal?

"So Sam, nice job on the dress today," Emily blurts out, catching me off guard so that I almost choke on my burger. I start coughing and sputtering. Sam hands me my glass to help. Ugh, why did she have to say anything?

"Are you okay?" he asks, rubbing my back.

"Don't forget to chew-chew!" Mia and Maci sing out, sounding like a train. I nod and take a sip from my glass.

"Sorry, Emily what were you saying?"

Here we go. I don't even have a lie in place. She spins the event out in full dramatic detail as I watch the concern grow on Sam's brow like an untamed weed. He blinks up at me wondering who my secret admirer is, no doubt.

"I didn't buy Brennen a dress." He turns to me. "Is there something you want to tell me?" I can't read his mood. Now, I would beg for the power to know what he's thinking.

Okay make this believable.
A light smile breaks out on my face, and I laugh. "I apparently have a wealthy cousin on my mother’s side. My Aunt Hattie, god rest her soul, gave him up for adoption and he tracked me down recently. He likes to splurge sometimes." I marvel at how easily the lies come when I need them to.

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"I don't know him very well yet."

"Well what's his name?"

"Elijah." I whisper as if I may summon him here by the mere mention of his name.

Elena applauds my efforts with a standing ovation. "Bravo child!"

I glare into her, wondering if angels can get drunk. I'm so glad that I’m the only one who can see her. Inara and Will are locked in conversation I take a second glance, and he whispers something in her ear, and she rolls back laughing, touching his bare shoulder in the process. Hm looks like love is in the air for those two.

"Well if he's in town, I'd love to meet him."

"I called him this afternoon to thank him and to confirm it was really he who sent the gift, he said he bought the dress days ago, when I was in New York. He's already back in Cali." Keep piling Bren, lies on top of lies. I go into the kitchen and grab the cherry cheesecake. Maybe a bit of sugar will help them swallow the load of crap I just fed them by the spoonful.

By the time I serve it they
have moved on to prom details.

"You are all welcome to spend the weekend here if you want," I offer.  Jesson's eyes widen at the prospect. He takes Emily's hand and kisses it. My own eyes widen in shock.

"Would that make you happy?" he asks her and she nods. "Then that is what we'll do."

"Dinner at Salacia? Prom is right downstairs
," Sam offers.

"I've heard that place is really good," Emily says,
and I nod my head in agreement.

His sisters dive back into the water,
so I take my chance and steal a kiss from Sam.

"You have a little cherry on your lip, may I help you remove it?" I ask. His eyes close and drift open, waiting. I take in his lower lip as he sucks in a breath. His hands wrap in my hair as he returns the kiss.

"You know I was saving that for later," he says in his low, hushed voice that makes me want to crawl on his lap and never leave. I sigh, and he smiles knowing exactly what he's doing. God help me come prom. I rake my body out of the chair and begin to clear the table.

After everyone has vacated
, and it’s just me and the Po-Po, I retreat to my bedroom to brush up for my finals this week. Brutus curls up on a blanket I put on the floor for him.

“Tomorrow you and I get to go see the veterinarian and get you all checked out.” He groans and rolls over exposing his man hood. Yep, those are going too. I scratch his tummy and his tongue flaps out of his mouth in response. “You are a goofy dog.”

*~*~*

“Bren?” I gasp at the sound of a man’s voice calling my name nearby. I must have dozed off. I recognize Jesson’s voice outside my door.

“Yeah?”
I call, as I roll out of bed to let him in.

“Sorry. Elena said you were up here studying. You must not have heard me the first time
I knocked.” He brushes his medium length, straight hair back like a habit.

“Sorry
, I guess I was tired. Come on, I need some fresh air.” I lead him out to the catwalk of my house. He leans against the railing and stares out at the water, toeing at the walkway with his Converse.

“Where should I begin?” he asks. Jesson is always so calm and cool.

“I need to know how I can save Elijah.”

“Whoa, whoa, first you need to back up. You can’t save Elijah; he has to
save himself.”

The moon casts its light over the water turning the sea into a churning cauldron of
navy glitter. 
“He said they were taking him, and he may not be the same. What will they do to him?”

“Look you don’t really want to know what they are going to do to him, Bren. Trust me on this one okay. You saw me when I came back. And I was with them since the beginning.” My heart sinks as I watch a chill run over him as if he’s reliving the moment.
 

“I’m sorry I don’t remember.”

“Right. Well it was bad, and that’s all you need to know.”

“But you don’t seem changed by your
whole experience down there. How were you able to do it? Fight their orders, I mean.”

“Honestly Bren I don’t know. I just knew that I had to be back in his grace. When I lost it, it was the worst pain I’d ever felt. Humans speak metaphorically about having their heart ripped out. Well, in a literal way, that’s exactly what it felt like. And then each day I woke up, there was just this empty hole. Many of us felt we’d been deceived.
At first,
we
were the ones who begged for Him to let us return. But we could no longer hear Him. Then, the one we had to call master, begin to rule over us. If we didn’t fall in line with his orders in detail, he would torture us. He wouldn’t stop until he knew we could be trusted again or that we were too scared to cross him.

Many still talk about an uprising, but they’re too
afraid of what he’d do if he discovered any sort of coo.”

 
“So you had to follow his orders? Like when Nehemiah ordered Elijah to stay in his spirit form, he couldn’t manifest his body at all.”
“Not exactly, a fallen angel chooses to follow orders. If you disobey, you’ll be punished or imprisoned in hell.”

“Jesson, I guess what I’m asking is, what should I do, and don’t say, nothing, because that’s not an option.”

“Okay, Bren.” He smiles. “Talk to the Orator. Perhaps she’ll know what his redemptions are.”

“Let’s go.”

“What now? Look you’d better get your Keepers to take you.” He faces into the wind and his hair is swept up like a dark haired troll doll causing a smile to form on my lips.

“Fine, one more thing.”

“Yeah?”

“What are your intentions with Emily?” I ask grabbing him by the shirt collar. He laughs.

“Whoa, easy there little human. I’m taking her to prom, not marrying her.”

“Why are you still here Jesson? Did M
alphas make you keep an eye on me? How do I know you’re not still working for them?”

“I was a mole Brennen, the Cherubim knew who I was
, and that I was really on their side. If they trust me, why don’t you?” he says, his voice never showing any sign of stress.

“Why does a six thousand year old angel, who just broke out of hell, want to be in high school?”

He chuckles. “Well, when you put it that way, you make me sound pretty pathetic.”
“See my point exactly.”
“Let’s just say your mother doesn’t take any risks. The plan will go as it was foretold, centuries ago.”

“That’s all I am to them isn’t it? A pawn in their one shot at success.” I kick a leaf off of the ledge and watch the wind carry it off.

“Why would you think that? Oh Bren, we’ve got to get your memories back.”

Why does everyone keep saying that?

"The main reason I think I’m just a player in their all too real Game of Life, is because I have half a fleet of angels surrounding me at any given time, to make sure I don't screw it all up for them. Again, I might add."

"Brennen, your
mother only wants to keep you safe. She loves you tremendously. I have to go now. Please stay safe, and don't do anything..." He sighs, "Risky."

I let the tailgate down on Sam's truck and hop up, making myself comfortable under the shady branches of the live oak tree. He finally saunters out of the barn in a dirty white t-shirt and dust covered jeans. He gives me a lazy smile and pulls his cap off to wipe his brow.

"Dang girl, I just love seeing you sitting on the back of my truck in your sundress, looking hotter than I need you too right now."

I roll my eyes
and toss him a water bottle. He thanks me and guzzles it down. I bite my lip as I notice his arms have been freshly toned from all of the hay bales he just unloaded. Sam's arrival has just made the sun feel ten degrees hotter.

"I'm making your favorite tonight, it should be ready by the time you come down."

"Chicken fried steak?"

"Of course!"

"My mouth’s already watering." He licks his lips and kisses my cheek. We walk inside his home together hand in hand. He leaves me to cook while he showers. His father and sisters should be back any time from the girls’ dance lessons.

"So when will you take me to see Emmagen?" I direct to Elena.

"She'll see you tonight. So don't dilly-dally at dinner." I make a face. The girls were looking forward to game night after dinner. I unload the bag of groceries I brought over and bread the steak cutlets. I peel the potatoes and dump them in the boiling water. About the time I finally get the steaks in the pan of oil, I hear Sam’s family come home.

"Mm
mm! Something sure smells good," Mr. Montgomery sings out.

"Brennen look at my new move," Mia says lifting her leg up near her ear.

"Wow that looks like it would hurt, but good job."

"Stop showing off Mia," Maci chimes in
, dropping her bag on the floor.

"Jealous much!?"

"Girls enough with the bickering. Maci put your things away," their father barks out, silencing them with an irrefutable glare.

"Yes sir," t
hey say in unison.

"Brennen, thank you again for making us dinner. It's very kind of you."

"You're welcome. I love to cook Mr. Montgomery." Sam finally comes down, clean and smelling enticing as usual. He wraps his arm around my waist and gently kisses my earlobe just as his father leaves the room. Suddenly I wish it was just the two of us alone tonight.

We bring all of the food to the table. I take Sam's hand and he follows suit around the table. I say a short thanks, feeling a little awkward as I pray out loud. Everyone has to start somewhere right, I tell myself. I made a
huge spread consisting of the chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans and peach cobbler for dessert. I’ll need to be wheeled out by the time I’m done.

"You two kids looking forward to prom tomorrow night?"

"Yes sir."

"Son, I know we've had this talk before and..."

Sam cringes down in his chair. "Dad please, not in front of the girls."

Mr. Montgomery resigns his safe sex lecture for another time. My face is lit up like the Christmas tree at the liquor store.

"Have you found a place around Houston yet?" I ask, hoping the answer is no. I hope the Texas real estate market suddenly hit a dry spell.

"Yes, I found a small ranch in Magnolia, it's less than an hour away from Sam's school. I think we'll like it there."

"Much more humidity than in Ft. Worth."

Ack! We’re talking about the weather of all things. Much better than the birth control topic, however.
 Sam rubs my thigh as his father tells us about their new home. It sounds beautiful. He shows me a few pictures of a large white wooden house with green shutters and lush landscaping. A small gazebo is set off to the side of the house. The barn is not as updated as their last one but Mr. Montgomery says that’s where they will have to pour their work into. 

“Brennen come on we’re going to play,
Would You Rather
,” Mia yells out from the living room. I need to leave, but they’ve been looking forward to game night all week.

“I’ll be right there
.” Sam and I cuddle up on the love seat, and Mia and Maci sprawl on the rug. Sam’s dad settles into a leather recliner with a cup of coffee in his hand.

“Okay Brennen gets to go first since she’s our guest,” Maci explains.

“Would you rather have frog lips or eyes like a crab?” I ask and Mia and Maci squeal out “ew’s” in unison.

“Frog lips, crab eyes gross me out.” Maci explains.
“Oh but frog lips don’t?” Mia chimes in. “Well I choose crab eyes. I can sneak peeks around the corner and no one would see me. I shake my head at their logic.

“Wo
uld you rather never know love or never know kindness?” Maci asks me. That’s a tough one I have to ponder for a second.

“Well I suppose I’d have to choose, kindness. I think life would be unbearable i
f the person you loved never showed you kindness,” I admit. Sam plants a chaste kiss on my cheek and takes his turn.

His dad narrows his eyes in on him asks, “Would you rather be able to fly no higher than three feet off the ground or read only negative thoughts in people’s heads?

There’s a smile behind Sam’s eyes as he strokes his chin.

“I think I’d want to fly more than know all the crap t
hat goes on in the minds of most people.” After the first round I say my good byes and Sam walks me out. I love that his family has taken me right in and made me one of their own. Sam leans against my car. I dip my hands into his front pockets and pull him closer by his jeans. He pins me against the car and pours a kiss over my lips that could light the moon up at night with the voltage coming off of him.

“Be safe.”

“Always.”

*~*~*~

As soon as I return home, Elena and Inara whisk me away to the In-between. Night has fallen on the strange planet and for that, I'm grateful. They lead me down the hall and into an office, where Emmagen sits behind a large desk. What must be the Oracle, constantly changes, and flashes new images in the air by the second.

"Brennen, I've missed you so much. Elena, Inara please give us a moment alone."
 The two women turn on their heels without objection and I'm positive that my mother indeed has special powers of her own.

"Yes, well thank you for agreeing to see me. Jesson said you may be able to help."

"I'd be more than happy to do anything I can for you, child." I walk around her desk, memorized by the pictures.

"Have you got the hang of this thing yet?" My hand hovers over it and it stops
over an image of me. I'm sunning myself on a blanket. The view changes as if the camera were panning around to see my face. Whoa, I'm very pregnant, is that a baby elephant I'm carrying? Good grief. My hand falls away and the images keep moving.

"Mostly."

"Did you see that? Please tell me my future doesn't involve me birthing baby hippos."

"Brennen, what is it you're in need of?" She grasps my arms and studies my expression. Her doe-eyes settle over me in a way that can only be interpreted as motherly.

"I need to help Elijah. Tell me what he needs to do to get his grace back."

"Even if I tell you, he's in Hell right now. There's no way in for our kind."

"He'll find a way out and when he does he'll find me. I have to help him."

"Brennen you need to stay away from Elijah
, especially now. I know you think he would never hurt you but the fact is, he could kill you."

"Look I'm going to do this with or without you. If you want to help me great, but I will find a way."

My mother purses her lips, looking every bit the pouty child that I do when I make the same face.  She sweeps her hair back behind her, and concentrates her gaze on the Oracle. I walk around the glass desk and stand beside her, anxious to see what she sees. I get glimpses of Elijah's face here and there but her hands fly around as if she were conducting a complicated symphony.

"Listen carefully. Elijah must redeem himself three times and then he will be allowed to return to his master. As far as I can tell
, his first mission is to save Nehemiah."

"But I thought Nehemiah was crazed with power?"

"Perhaps he was, but Michael the archangel, will deal with him in his own way. It wasn't Elijah's place to enslave him to Hell." I shrug it off. Okay, so the guy basically ruins my life by turning it upside down, re-writes my history, and he gets a get-out-of-jail-free card?"

"Yes,
He
has a plan."

"Next, it looks like Elijah
saves a mass of people from dying before their time."

"What people? Give me more details."

She scrunches up her brow and goes back on the search for a few minutes.

"You're going to have to figure
out which plane, carrying only thirty-five people, is doomed to crash. The plane will be sabotaged by the evil ones. More than likely they've made deals, like the one Sam's mother made. It looks like Malphas wants to collect early.

And lastly… He will have to save the life of the very person he
most likely wishes would never take another breath again."

"Me?"

She rolls her eyes back like she can't believe I'm as dumb as I've just let on.

"Oh, Sam?"

"We really must get your memories back."

Seriously?

"Any details on how that whole scenario is going to play out? Because Thing 1 and Thing 2 aren't letting Elijah anywhere near me."

"Brennen, they're ordered not to. I made the one exception so he could say his goodbyes. Have Jesson relay everything I've just told you to Elijah. You
are to stay away from him. Are we clear young lady?"

Whoa what? Is she trying to actually be my mother?

"You don't know me all that well, I see."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because if you did, you would never threaten me to get me to comply." I walk out of the office and look for Inara and Elena, leaving my mother with a look of clear discomfort on her brow.

I finally find them lingering in the garden. Roses the color of sunset, bloom by the hundreds here. It looks as if they go on for miles. The air is painted with their delicate fragrance and I inhale their perfume as I walk.

"Beam us up Scottie."

"Was she able to help?" Elena asks.

"I have what I need. Now can we please go?"

"What's wrong? Did she upset you?"

"That's putting it mildly." I walk back into the building with them not far behind. We step on the platform and are transported through time and space and back into my living room.

"Thanks for taking me, I'm going to head on up. Goodnight ladies."

"Goodnight Brennen." They both say.