Chapter 25 - Stranger Than Fiction
Valentina:
Sitting on my bedroom’s window sill, I look back at my packed bag then back out the window. I can’t sleep. When I close my eyes, I remember how good Michael made me feel and how much I miss him even though it has only been hours since I last saw him.
I release a deep breath as I slide my hands down my bare thighs, rest my cheek on the window and tuck my knees beneath my chin. The light nightshirt I’m wearing clings tightly to my body due to the warmth in the air.
It has only been days since I arrived in Paris, and my life has been irrevocably changed. Not only have I learned that I’m not actually human. I’ve also learned that I’m one of four women who nearly ended the world, I have big white wings, and I’m in love with one of the most powerful archangels in biblical history.
I know that I have to tell my friends about my newfound knowledge, but I don’t even know where to begin. It all just sounds so crazy when you think about it.
A breeze stirs in the room, startling me out of my thoughts. Michael appears before me at that moment, his long wings spread out behind him and his body encased in his armor.
“Why did you lie to me?” he bluntly asks.
Rising from my perch, I stand cautiously before him, “I know you think I lied to you, Michael. But I promise you, I didn’t.”
I look down at my bare toes and release my own wings, still keeping my nightshirt in place, and wave my hands in front of me, “I didn’t discover what I was until after the first time we made love.”
Michael’s emerald eyes gleam with hope as he moves closer, “What? Are you telling me the truth?” he mumbles with confusion.
“Hell no, I’m not lying. One moment, I was in the bathroom because I wasn’t feeling well. But when I look in the mirror, my eyes are glowing, and wings are sticking out of my back. Then, to add insult to injury, I disappear from the room and find myself in another place with a little girl named Clotho, who calls herself the Weaver of fate, which creeped me out cause I could feel immense power radiating from her.” I hurriedly explain, sounding nearly hysterical. “She told me that I fulfilled my destiny, and then she calls me Valentina Ariza, Horseman of War and Archangel of Heaven, which freaking blows me away.” I swallow hard before I continue, “I was going to tell you that night, but then Lucifer showed up, and I chickened out. I swear that’s all that happened. I would never lie about something so crazy.”
Michael gazes down at me with puzzlement for a moment, which I will admit makes me a little nervous. What if he doesn’t believe me? He was angry before that. I don’t know how he’ll react now.
“Did Clotho say anything else?” he asks.
I nod, “After she reassured me that she wasn’t there to hurt me, she told me that the spell you used to find me was somewhat true because when Lana siphoned our horsemen powers, they were swept into the Creator’s seal. She said that my human shell would have returned to its previous state, and my angelic abilities lay dormant until we...” I wave a finger between us bashfully. “…you know…did it.”
His lip quirks with amusement when I infer that sex was the catalyst for my resurrection, so I continue with my story, “She said you had been waiting a long time for me, and now that we were reunited, I had set the wheels turning for my sisters' resurrections, but she wouldn’t tell me who my sisters are.”
I stop and take a deep breath, wringing my fingers together as I nervously wait for his response. “D - do…” I clear my throat, “Do you believe me?”
After a moment, he rolls his shoulders back, his wings recede, and his armor vanishes. “Come to me,” he mutters sensually.
Without a word, I vanish my own wings and step into his arms. Michael holds me tightly and lays gentle kisses on my face until I’m ready to swoon. The man is extremely potent.
“Je suis amoureux de toi,” I am in love with you, he whispers in my ear, “I’ve been in love with you since the moment you said, this was not a freaking dream but a freaking nightmare.”
I laugh when he mimics my tone. Placing my hand on his chin, I lift it up until his emerald eyes are gazing into mine, “I love you too, Michael. I knew I did when you spared Sami and promised to help me find the queen.”
His eyes light up with joy and hunger as he slams his lips against mine.
For hours we lie in my bed and make love until we’re both sated.
“Come home with me,” he huskily mutters in my ear.
Glancing up, I caress my fingers across his sculpted jaw and kiss his chin before I sit up and lean my back on the headboard, “I can’t stay here, Michael. In fact, Sami and I are leaving for Israel this afternoon.”
He slides up next to me and heatedly replies, “You do not wish to be with me?”
I shake my head, “Of course I want to be with you, Michael. It’s not about that. It’s about my responsibilities. I have to go to Israel and finish my research on a dig. I can’t just up and leave everything that I worked for because I’m in love.”
I take his hand in mine and rest my head on his shoulder, “Why don’t you come with me, instead?” I ask.
He glances down at me and squeezes my hand. “I wouldn’t be interfering?”
He sounds so unsure that my heart melts further.
“Not really. I mean, you can probably even help, considering you’ve lived through all of these ancient events that I’m studying.”
His chest expands as he pulls me into his lap, “Oui, I probably can. I hold several doctorate degrees in ancient cultures and teach at a supernatural college several times a year. What is it you’re researching?”
I gasp in surprise at his carelessly tossed declaration, “What? Are you serious? What degrees do you have?”
He shrugs, “I have several doctorates and masters in Ancient Texts, Ancient Cities and Sanctuaries, Philosophy and Ancient Languages, Biblical Scriptures, Eastern Philosophies and several others that I’ve earned throughout the centuries.”
My mouth gapes open as he humbly checks off a list of his educational accomplishments, then I sputter out with amusement. “Wow, that’s amazing, Michael, and damn, you’re old,”
He rolls his eyes, “You know you’re not that much younger than I am. You have been reincarnated for thousands of years.”
I rest my head back on his bicep and wryly nod, “Shit, this is so crazy. I’m going to need you to explain that another time. Not now, because I’m still dealing with the whole being an archangel horseman thing, but soon.”
He chuckles, “I shall go with you to Israel, chérie. Perhaps we might even find out the identities of my brothers’ mates now that we know they’re alive.”
I nod, “Yeah, it would be nice to know who they are?”
Michael looks on thoughtfully, “Do you think any of your friends can be a mate?”
“To be honest, I’ve never seen my friends express any powers. They’re pretty ordinary, but it’s possible.”
I’m not lying. Everly and Samira have never done anything weird enough to make me suspect that they’re like me. Yet, they have probably never noticed my powers, so the possibility is there. I guess all I can do is wait and see. After all, Clotho did say their destinies would be fulfilled.
He nods, “I guess we’ll keep an eye out and hope that we find them. For now, it’s best if you tell your friends to keep what they know to themselves. If they are indeed human, they will endanger themselves with our kind. Perhaps it’s also best if you keep your identity from them until we can unravel the mystery of the Hand of God and your other sisters as well. I’m sure you do not want to put them in any more danger than they’re already in. It’s enough that they know about our existence. It would be a death sentence if they spoke about the horsemen.”
I agree. Though I feel guilty about keeping something so big from my best friends, I know it’s for the best.
Come morning, Sami is surprised to see Michael coming out of my room.
I take Michael’s hand and lead him to my best friend, smiling joyfully, “Sami, this is my boyfriend, Michael.” I look at Michael and give him a mischievous smile, “Michael, I’d like to officially introduce you to one of my best friends, Samira.”
Samira accepts Michael’s hand and gives him a big, flustered smile, “Oh damn, you saved my life. I can’t believe it. Thank you.”
Michael gives her a gentlemanly bow, “C'est un plaisir de vous rencontrer officiellement, Samira.” It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Samira.
Sami nearly swoons as she turns to me and silently mouths the words, Oh my god, he’s so hot.
“Are you really an archangel?” she asks, to my consternation.
Michael nods, “Oui, but it’s probably best if you do not bandy that information about.”
Sami mimics, zipping her lips and nods, “Yeah, I totally get it. I mean, I’m sure you don’t want the world to know you really exist. That would be crazy. And you’re totally dating my bestie, because…” she babbles.
Before she continues, I place my palm over her lips and pull her close. “Okay, girl, you do not need to bombard Michael right now. We’ll have plenty of time on the plane to Israel.”
Her eyes grow wider, “Wait, he’s coming with us?”
I nod and squeeze Michael’s hand. “Michael is coming with us so we can spend some more time together.”
Michael gives me a sexy smile, “Je t'aime, and I would follow you wherever you may go.”
Sami fans herself as she gapes at us, “Wow, you two are just too cute.” Her face falls at that moment, and her lips turn down into a pout, “Man, I want a gorgeous supernatural boyfriend too. Can you introduce me to someone? Just not that asshole friend of yours. He was such a dick.”
Michale snickers, “Gabriel is not my friend, he’s my brother, and he has reasons for why he is the way he is.”
Her face flushes red, “Oops, sorry. That was so rude of me.”
He shrugs, “Non, it’s alright. Gabriel can be an acquired taste, but he’s also a loyal male who will give his life for those he loves. Just like you and Valentina.”
Sami gives him a soft smile and jumps into his arms, embracing him tightly, “Thank you, Michael. Thank you for saving me and for loving my best friend.”
Michael pats her back awkwardly before he pulls away from her hold.
Without another word, we pack up our things and go to Michael’s house.
Sami instantly falls in love with his home and spends time on his gorgeous terrace.
Though Michael can flash us to Israel, we opt to fly instead since Ever will be meeting us at the airport. Needless to say, Ever is shocked to see that I have brought a gorgeous french man with me.
When she discovers what he is, she also bombards him with questions and gives me a haughty look. “See, I told you supernatural beings existed.”
God, I love my friends. I just hope that they find love like I did.