Jess followed Vi outside to the courtyard. The violinist moved down the street with her case and the fedora in which she collected donations. Jess wondered if the woman knew something about freedom she’d missed. She watched the girl carry her violin down the block, where she would find another place to play for the horde of tourists. Maybe, the performer didn’t share her ties to a haunted past. If the notion was true, Jess envied her.
“So, there’s more, yeah? Who is Dawson?” She sat down across from Vi who fiddled with her phone as she answered a text message.
Jess figured it was Rory or Justin, because Vi guarded the screen in her lap from Jess’ prying eyes. Only when the screen went dark did she inhale and place the cell on the iron patio table. “He was supposed to be your guardian. If things had gone as planned, Dawson would have watched over you after you were born.”
“But?”
“But, he made another choice. He fell, decided to join Lucifer, and be the opposite of all the things he was born to be. God appointed Maci and Asher to watch over you.” Vi was mumbling and Jess had to struggle to read her lips.
Why was she stressed over this? Jess had been subjected to the reality of angel boyfriends, and half-breed best friends. Why did Vi think Dawson’s descent from guardian to demon would faze her?
“And Justin? Our meeting wasn’t a cosmic coincidence, I assume?” Jess chuckled at her sarcasm, but she wasn’t amused by the idea.
“It’s kind of confusing…but, once a demon is earth-bound, like Dawson, the angels can’t properly protect you. They have to get help from angels like Justin, who are also tied to the planet. Maci and Asher asked him to wait for you and protect you from Dawson.” Vi absent-mindedly twirled her phone on the table.
Watching her expression Jess knew she had no idea how infuriating it was. Justin had tricked her, used her emotions to gain access to her. He’d been employed to watch over her, and she’d fallen into his trap. The insight opened a fresh injury in her and she suddenly wanted to hurt him.
“I can see the wheels turning. He didn’t expect to fall for you, Jess.” Vi glanced up and caught her expression. She looked panicked, but Jess couldn’t see it from that angle. She’d been a fool.
“Please. I’m human. Justin hates humans; he did what he had to do to get close to me. It’s all crystal clear now…tell me this, why does Dawson want me dead?”
“It’s not like that. I know Justin.” Jess could see Vi was waiting for her to submit to the lie, but she had no intention of letting him hurt her again. Vi stood up and looked at the clock on her phone like she had somewhere to be. “You are the only tie Dawson has to God. Once you’re gone, he’s free. It’s sort of a rite of passage for a guardian who falls, they have to get rid of their charge.”
How could she be so callous? They were talking about Jess’ life, but Vi sounded so far removed. Jess didn’t care if Vi was leaving. She rose from her chair and started for the gate. “I gotta go.”
She didn’t look back as she stormed out of the courtyard and onto the street. She could feel Vi’s eyes on her, and she was overwhelmed by guilt and anger all at once. It was the weekend, and the streets of the Quarter were crowded. Artists had set up in front of the Cathedral, and there was a sea of people between her and her destination. She pushed through the crowd disregarding their remarks, her focus on one thing only.
A woman reading tarot cards on the corner grabbed her hand as she passed. Jess snatched away from her clutch and glanced back in horror. She only wanted to reach Justin’s apartment, so she could unload her fury on him. She’d suffered an abundance of guilt for hurting him, and yet everything she’d felt had been a cruel joke.
She cut through an alley and ran until she stood outside of his apartment, her face red, her breaths ragged. Rory sat on a lawn chair strumming an old acoustic guitar, and she couldn’t find the courage to storm through the gate. Why was he staring at her?
“Jess?” Rory stood, crossed the concrete and opened the gate. His face was soft and sweet, the way it always was, and she resented that too.
“Where is Justin?” It was difficult to hide her humiliation, and she wished she’d never left Denham Springs.
“I’ll get him.” Rory left the door open, and it banged against the brick over and over again.
A taxi blew its horn, startling Jess, as she realized its bumper was brushing her thigh. She threw a hand up and stepped onto the sidewalk as Justin came outside beaming. His smile was warm and genuine, and created cavernous dimples in his ruddy cheeks. Jess had to look at the asphalt not to fall prey to his beauty.
“Hey, come in.” He stood at the gate his hand reaching for her.
“No, I’m fine.” She shook her head sure she looked to him like she’d lost her mind. “You’re the most heartless creature I’ve ever known. I know how repulsed you are by humanity, but to use mine against me, to allow me to feel something for you…I hate you.” She managed to look into his eyes with a bit of self-assurance when she said it.
His smile disappeared and was replaced by bewilderment. “What are you talking about? Lucky, please come in.”
Did her heart crack just then? “You knew I was coming. You knew you had to protect me, and you let me fall in love with you, so you could be close to me. Even for you, that’s incredibly low. I can’t even begin to tell you how much I despise you. Haven’t I suffered enough?” She was yelling, and several people had gathered at the corner watching the scene she created. Rory peeked through the window, but even Rory’s appearance didn’t shame her into walking away.
“You’re wrong…I…”
“Just shut up. Shut up. I don’t want to hear it. Stay away from me. If Dawson rips my head off in the middle of Jackson Square, don’t come near me.”
Jess was mortified, and the only thing she could do was run. She ran down the crowded streets backtracking past the tarot reader and through Jackson Square. The Cathedral bells were tolling, and she pressed her hands to her head fearing the sounds would cause her head to finally explode.
She felt like a child, and the stares of strangers forced her to focus on the road ahead. She sprinted, until she couldn’t anymore, until her lungs burned and her head pounded. When she didn’t have the stamina to put anymore distance between herself and Justin, she slid down the brick façade of an art gallery and sobbed.