Defying Evil: A Dark Romantic Thriller Abbie Roads (Blood is Thicker Than…, #1) Publication date: October 17th 2023 Genres: Adult, Romance, Thriller
He’s the son of a serial killer.
She’s his father’s only surviving victim.
He’s obsessed with her.
She’s frightened of him.
Before it’s all over they’ll need each other to survive.
Cain Killion’s life has revolved around blood. From a childhood of torture by his father, to his gruesome ability to solve crimes. When a current case is directly connected to his past, there’s only one person with answers.
But she isn’t talking, and the bodies are stacking up. The only solution… Kidnap her.
Defying Evil is the first book in the Blood is Thicker Than Series of dark romantic thrillers. It features a man tortured by his past who never thought he was capable of love. If you devour edge of your seat thrillers and romance novels, you’ll love a series that combines both in a roller-coaster ride of mind games and tragic love.
Read this dangerously dark romance today!
Trigger warning: Depictions of violence.
Previously published until the title Saving Mercy.
Wow! That was my first thought after finishing this story. This is a must read for dark romance/dark thriller lovers.
If you're a dark thriller/mystery lover then this book is your new poison. This story is also not for the weak hearted. With eerily descriptive scenes and a dark past both Cain and Mercy cannot escape from it'll take you through a roller coaster ride. Be mindful of the triggering topics such as violence, r*pe and other disturbing themes.
I was hooked from the first two chapters. Honestly Mercy's introduction scene with that doctor gave me chills. I was so relieved when she got out of there. Cain and Mercy are both survivors of a horrible past. I wondered how these two were going to bond when both their trauma came from the same person while Cain was the son of their abuser. But the entire thing unfolded really well.
The story is gruesome, twisted, suspenseful with the addition of a paranormal twist. I've never read something where they had abilities such as Cain, which made it more interesting for me.
This is my first read from Abbie Roads and I was intrigued when I read the blurb. I knew I had to read it and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm a sucker for serial killer mysteries and this book kept me entertained throughout and surprised me with everything that was unveiling with each chapter.
For romance lovers, this is more of a thriller than a romance though it's there. I won't spoil anything more ;) Read and find out.
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Author Bio:
Abbie Roads is the best-selling author of the Fatal Dreams Series and the Fatal Truth Series. Her novels have been finalists in many prestigious contests including The Golden Heart, The Greater Detroit Booksellers Best, The Oklahoma National Readers’ Choice Award, The Write Touch, The Strut Your Stuff Contest, The Aspen Gold Contest, The Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, The Heart of Excellence Readers’ Choice Award, The Midnight Sun, The Kathryn Hayes Contest, The Chanticleer, The Daphne du Maurier, The National Readers’ Choice Award, The New England Readers’ Choice Contest, The Beverly Award, and The Maggie Award. Her debut novel Race the Darkness was Publishers Weekly Top 10 Pick for Fall and Never Let Me Fall is an Amazon Editor’s Pick.
By day Abbie Roads is a mental health counselor always focusing on the bright side. By night she writes on the dark side, putting her characters through the wringer before she gives them their happily-ever-after. She loves a good inspirational quote and is a fan of true crime.
When Black voices are stifled, the reality is transformed into fiction, history is twisted into folklore, and heroes are turned into myths. Harriet Beecher Stowe published Uncle Tom's Cabin, holding a brief account of Eliza Harris, in 1853. Now, 170 years later, learn the actual tale of Eliza's harrowing escape from slavery and her unwavering bravery to live a life of freedom. Eliza risked everything to cross the semi-frozen Ohio River in the dead of night and save her baby from a slave's life.
Indomitable is a work of historical fiction based on real events and Eliza's firsthand narrative. While one branch of the author's family owned Eliza, the other branch risked their lives to rescue her. We cannot undo the past, but we can recount the tales of those who fought for liberty and assure that their sacrifice was not in vain.
Cries of ‘Happy New Year!’ filled the air, but
Eliza kept her eyes downcast while cleaning. New Year parties be for the White folk, but we ain’t ne’er got no party
in 1837. Why should 1838 be different? It just be another day.
Eliza’s mind drifted as a drunk guest tripped
over the area rug and plunged into her, covering her dress in champagne. “Whoa!
Watch what you’re doin’, you lazy crow! Clean up this mess and get me another
drink! You’re as useless as your mother!”
“Yes, Mista Wood! Right away, sir!” Eliza turned
and glowered as she hastened to the bar to refill her former master’s drink. It just be once a year. Keep your mouth shut
and bite your tongue. Tomorrow, you can clean the house and forget ‘bout Mista
Wood. At least you ain’t cuttin’ timber or workin’ the fields like George.
Elias Wood jerked his thumb toward Eliza and
spoke in a carrying voice. “You’ve got to learn how to handle these Negroes,
m’boy! Don’t give them an inch and always maintain strict discipline. Take this
one, for instance! I may have sired her, but I never considered her my
daughter. She was my property, pure and simple.”
Reason Downing wrinkled his nose in disgust. “You
mated with your slave? Have you no shame, sir? They’re animals!”
A burst of laughter filled the room, and Elias
clapped Reason on the shoulder. “My dear boy, they may be soulless, sub-human
creatures, but they’re not animals! They descend from Cain, and as such,
they’re inferior to decent folks, like you and me.”
Scowling, Reason lowered his voice to avoid
eavesdroppers. “Sub-human or animal, I can’t believe you’d mate with them. It
goes against nature, and all that’s holy!”
Elias tapped the side of his nose and leaned in
closer to share his wisdom. “That’s where you’re wrong, m’boy. I get no
pleasure from the deed itself, mind you, but when I make my own slaves, I
triple my profit!”
A moment later, Eliza returned with Elias’s drink
and set it on the table, next to where they were seated. “Took you long
enough!” Elias grabbed the drink and emptied the glass in a single gulp. Before
she could leave, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her to the floor, causing her
to cry out in pain. “Do you see that Mulatta skin, m’boy? You can make a
fortune breeding domesticated slaves.” Flinging her arm away, Elias chortled as
Eliza scrambled to her feet, rubbing her sore wrist. “Remember how much you paid
for Annie? I gave you Eliza as a wedding gift. Imagine how much that gift
would’ve cost you otherwise!”
“Youse a bad man, Mista Wood. We is human, and we
do got souls!”
The force of Elias’s backhand broke open Eliza’s
lip and sent her careening to the floor. Spittle flew from his mouth as he
leaped to his feet, swaying where he stood. “You filthy animal! How dare you
speak to your superiors with such disrespect?”
Reason caught Elias’s hand in mid-swing. “That’s
enough, sir. Eliza is my property now, not yours, and I’d thank you to not
damage my property any further.”
Elias puffed out his chest in indignation.
“Humph! Well, I never! Discipline, m’boy! Your slaves need discipline! Yessir,
they do!”
“Perhaps they do, but not from you, Mr. Wood.
I’ll thank you to leave my slaves alone or leave my property.”
Glowering at Reason’s reprimand, Elias stumbled
to the bar to refill his drink. Bending down, Reason helped a shaken Eliza to
her feet. “It’ll be alright. Go see Hannah, and she’ll get you patched up. When
you’re done, you can change and come back down.”
“Thank you, Massa!” Lowering her eyes, she rushed
outside to find the resident healer. Reaching the entrance of the healer’s
shack, she flung open the door and plowed into a plump, elderly woman.
“Lord almighty, child! Where you off to in such a
hurry?” Noticing Eliza’s bleeding lip, Hannah clucked her tongue. “Good
gracious, child! What happened to you? Did you go talkin’ back to Massa
Downing? You know he ain’t ne’er laid a hand to us, so don’t go givin’ him a
reason to start now!”
Eliza shook her head and sat across the table
from Hannah. “No, ma’am! Ain’t nothin’ like that be happenin’. It was my old
Massa what done this to me!” Eliza relayed the situation between gasps of pain
while the healer doctored her lip.
“When you gonna learn your place, girl?” Hannah
scowled as she finished administering first aid. “You ain’t to be speakin’ to
White folk like that—even Massa Downing. You got a family to care for, and you
can’t be doin’ that if you let your mouth run afore your brain. Go on now… you
best be gettin’ back afore they send the hounds out for you.” She scolded, then
gave Eliza a tight hug and handed her a handkerchief.
“Thank you, Miss Hannah!” Clutching the
handkerchief to her lip, Eliza sprinted across the yard, rounded the corner of
the estate, and plowed into a muscular man, almost knocking her down.
“Whoa there!” The man gripped Eliza’s forearms,
holding her in place. “What’cha doin’ out here at this time of night?”
Eliza paled as she dapped her bleeding lip. “I
got permission to see Miss Hannah, and she fixed me up proper.”
The man turned his smoldering eyes on the bloody
handkerchief and caressed her lip. “Who did this to you? Was it Massa Downing
or Miss Lizzy? Ain’t nobody gonna lay a hand to my woman!”
“Let it be, George.” Eliza rested a calming hand
on her husband’s chest. “It weren’t Massa Downing, but ol’ Mista Wood. And
Massa sent me to Miss Hannah, but I gotta change my dress and return to the
party.”
“Alright, but you just watch yourself, you hear?
Ol’ Mista Wood ain’t like Massa Downing. He’s got the Devil in him, I reckon.”
Giving George a quick kiss, Eliza returned to the
estate to find her mistress in the kitchen, tapping her foot. “It’s about time
you returned! Why are you still wearing that soiled dress? Get changed and get
back down here. The party is almost over, and our guests are thirsty!”
“Yes, Miss Lizzy!” Tearing up the servant’s
stairwell, She reached the second floor and changed into a new dress. Moments
later, the boisterous melody of Auld Lang Syne filled the air as she entered
the foyer. “I got the drinks, Miss Lizzy!”
Her mistress flipped a hand toward the men
clustered around the piano. “I doubt they’ll even notice, but see if they want
any more to drink before they leave.”
Crossing the room, Eliza served drinks to the men
as they swayed in a drunken stupor. “Thank you, darlin'!” Reason Downing gulped
down his first drink and grabbed another, slapping Eliza’s posterior. “Go see
to my other guests… there’s a good lass.”
Blushing, Eliza carried the tray to Elias Wood,
who, despite his drunkenness, eyed her with contempt. “You’re still here, are
you? Well, give me my drinks and get outta my sight!” Averting her eyes, Eliza
bit her tongue and proffered the tray of drinks to her former master.
She returned the tray to the kitchen after
serving the last guest and stood along the wall. When the final party guest
staggered from the house, Eliza breathed a sigh of relief that this night was
over, and returned to her room humming Auld Lang Syne while she changed for
bed.
As her dress dropped to the floor, the bedroom
door opened, and Reason Downing staggered through the doorway. Eliza gasped and
quickly snatched her dress from the floor. “Massa Downing! I’s changin’ my
clothes!” A sense of dread filled her heart as her master leered at her nude
body.
Reason hiccupped and swayed on his feet as he
stumbled against the bedpost. “So? This is my house, and you’re my property. I
can do whatever I want with my own property.”
“But Massa, I ain’t decent!” An uneasiness
settled in the pit of her stomach.
The stench of bourbon filled the air as her
master stumbled forward, grabbing Eliza’s bare shoulder for support. “You
Negroes aren’t decent, clothed or otherwise! You’re no different than a cow or
a horse, except you can speak. Elias was right… Negroes are sub-human
descendants of Cain condemned by God to serve decent, God-fearing White
people.”
Reason twisted Eliza’s forearm behind her back,
causing her to cry out. “The Bible says God gave men dominion over all the wild
beasts that walk the Earth, which includes Negroes.”
She writhed to free herself from Reason’s grasp.
“Massa, you ain’t in your right mind! Youse drunk! Your room be down the hall.”
She reached for the door, but Reason jerked her arm backward, causing her to
drop the dress to the floor. Tears stung her eyes as her master’s fingernails
dug into her arm. Then panic rose within her as her master’s intentions became
clear.
“Don’t you turn away from me!” Reason pinched
Eliza’s cheeks together, eying her body with lustful intent. “I’m not finished
with you yet!”
Tears streamed down her cheeks as an unstoppable
flood of emotions washed over her.Raising
her voice, Eliza retrieved her dress to cover herself. “Please, Massa! Have
mercy! I ain’t done nothin’ wrong!”
His tone softened as he stroked the side of her
face. “Don’t resist, and you won’t get hurt. You’re my property, and you’re
gonna obey my commands!” Then he ripped the dress from Eliza’s hands, leaving
her shivering and sobbing. “Now, are you ready to make more property for me?”
Screaming, Eliza bolted for the door but received
a blow to the back of her head, causing her to pitch forward into the dresser.
When she awoke at dawn, the stench of hay and manure assaulted her nostrils.
She peered into the darkness but found one eye swollen shut.
Eliza’s frail voice shook as she called for her
husband. “Hello? George?” Pulling herself to her feet, she cupped her hands to
her mouth. “George! Where you at!” Her body ached all over.
Heavy footsteps echoed through the yard moments
before the barn door swung open. “There you is! I’s been lookin’ all over...”
George’s voice trailed off as he took in her bloodied lip, torn dress, and
swollen eye. His eyes flashed, and his nostrils flared as he shook with rage.
“Who did this to you? They gonna pay! Was it Mista Wood?”
Eliza buried her face in her hands and sobbed,
shaking her head. “Massa… it was Massa Downing what done this to me. He weren’t
in his right mind! The Devil took hold of him.”
George’s mouth hung open. “Massa Downing, done
this to you? He ain’t ne’er laid a hand on us, sober or otherwise!” He wrapped
his arms around Eliza and pulled her to him as she sobbed. “Don’t worry, none.
He’s gonna answer for what he done, and if the law don’t make him pay, I will.”
She gasped and pulled herself free. “No, George!
Don’t go doin’ nothin’ stupid. You’d be whipped or lynched for sure!”
He gripped her shoulders and lifted Eliza’s chin
to find her eyes. “I’d fight the Devil himself to protect you.”
Wrapping an arm around his neck, she pressed her
lips against his. “I know you would, but our children need a daddy too. Massa
Downing was drunk, and I don’t want you hurt on my account!”
“Eliza!”
George turned to face the estate and shook his
head. “You best be gettin’ back to Miss Lizzy right away! I can hear her
yellin’ for you across the yard.”
Kissing her husband once more, she raced from the
barn, picking straw from her hair as she ran. Chest heaving, she opened the
back door and washed up at the sink as the kitchen door opened. “There you are!
I’ve been calling for you!” Lizzy paused and clucked her tongue in disgust.
“Where the blazes have you been, anyway? Rolling with the pigs? Go upstairs and
get some fresh clothes on before you serve break...”
Lizzy gasped as Eliza turned to face her. “Good
Lord! What happened to you? Were you attacked?”
Eliza nodded and lowered her eyes, but remained
silent.
“You were? Who attacked you? Was it one of the
party guests?” Lizzy’s temper flared as Eliza shook her head in silence.
“Speak, girl! Who was it? Someone had to attack you! Was it one of the slaves?”
Again, Eliza shook her head, not daring herself
to speak. Lizzy marched across the kitchen and shook her by the shoulders. “I
demand you answer me! Tell me the truth! Who attacked you?”
“It was Massa...” Eliza’s voice broke, then a
tear rolled down her bruised and swollen cheek. “It was Massa Downing, Miss
Lizzy. He was drinkin’, and Mista Wood told him...”
Eliza’s head snapped to the side from the force
of Lizzy’s hard slap across her face, splitting open her lip a second time.
“You filthy whore! How dare you stand there and accuse my husband of attacking
you? He’s been nothing but decent and respectful to the whole lot of you. How
can you repay his kindness by besmirching his good name? My husband is a good,
Christian man. He’d never sully himself by mating with an animal. It’s unseemly
and goes against nature itself.”
“But Miss Lizzy, I ain’t lyin’ ‘bout what
happened! Ol’ Mista Wood poisoned Massa Downing’s mind with money. He want
Massa to breed new slaves. He done put the Devil in him, I tell you!” Another
stinging slap brought Eliza to tears, and she stopped speaking at once.
Mistress Downing stood fuming, her chest heaving
with rage. When she spoke, her voice was low and cold. “Get out… go live in the
slave shacks until I figure out what to do with you and send Annie to take over
your duties. I won’t have you spreading any more lies about my husband.” She
pointed to the back door, her face reddening with the effort to control her
temper. “Go! Get out of my sight!”
Bolting out the back door, Eliza tore across the
yard to the shacks to find Annie hanging laundry on the clothesline. “Quick,
Annie! Miss Lizzy needs you to take over for me in the house.”
“Oh, Eliza! Your poor face! What happened to
you?”
Eliza brushed aside her question, pointing back
to the house. “Don’t be worryin’ ‘bout me. Just be gettin’ back to Miss Lizzy
afore she puts us both in chains!”
Annie’s face paled, and she nodded, handing a
bedsheet to Eliza. “Just the pigs and chickens left after the sheets.” Biting
her lip, Annie raced back to the estate, leaving Eliza to finish her chores.
The winter sun warmed the air as Eliza lost
herself in the monotony of her work. Minutes later, a resonating crack echoed
in the distance, and a piercing scream filled the air. Dropping the laundry in
the basket, Eliza rushed toward the estate to find a throng of people gathering
at the front porch. Not wasting any time, Eliza tore across the yard as Annie
exited the back door.
Grabbing Eliza’s hand, Annie pulled her back into
the kitchen. “You best be gettin’ to the sittin’ room! You gotta stop George
afore he gets himself killed.”
Eliza’s eyes bulged as she ripped through the
house to the sitting room. She opened the door to find Lizzy applying pressure
to her husband’s bleeding shoulder and George standing over them with a gun.
“Go on now, Miss Lizzy. Move out the way… ain’t no one else need to die today except
Massa Downing!”
About the Author
J. D. Edwards is the internationally recognized author of The Faerie Chronicles, Killing Time, Sister Axe, Dry Bones, The Phantom Seer and Indomitable. His writing awards include The Charl Ormond Williams Fund, The Ohio Genealogical Society, Notebook Publishing’s #IndieApril, and Lulu’s Share Your Scare Writing Contest. Since 2012, J. D. Edwards has published over 50 genealogical articles in the United States and Great Britain, winning over a dozen writing competitions. Future projects include historical fiction books set in the 18th to 19th centuries, and a prequel series to The Faerie Chronicles.
Jacqueline Hughes thought she had everything she ever wanted––a career as a kindergarten teacher, a home with a white picket fence, and a handsome husband. However, her life as she knows it is sent tumbling down the stairs and then onto a roller-coaster ride when she’s caught in crossfire.
Matthew Hughes is a secret agent for a top-secret government organization. The perfect balance he maintains between his personal and professional life is put to the test by his new assignment.
What happens when Jacqueline discovers her husband is not who he claims to be? Will Matthew be able to restore the balance in his life?
Disclaimer: The medical terms, medicines and its effects mentioned in this novel are fictitious.
Hailing from India, Catherine is an author and law graduate, specializing in Intellectual Property & Copyright Infringement. She is passionate about Lycans, Werewolves, Witches, and Vampires, and writes sizzling tales of love and betrayal.
Her love for books started from a very young age, when her father would gift her books like Russian Tales woven with fantasy. But it was in late 2015 when she found the books of Paranormal Romance author Cynthia Eden, whose books introduced her to the whole new world of paranormals.
The more she read, the more she got enticed, and she penned her first novel in 2016. When she isn’t writing, she likes to travel and read. Music and writing go hand in hand for this night owl. Her family and fur babies are her world. She also loves to chat with her readers and fellow authors. You can find Catherine often chatting on Twitter or on her Facebook page.
The three cupids Ariel, Carol and
Pepper dubbed as the misfits among the other angels have never once succeeded
in matchmaking. Their careless mistakes cause a lot of trouble. After
continuous failures to bring the potential couples together, they are given one
last chance.
READ SAMPLE CHAPTERS BELOW
Prologue
“I’m so excited! They look so
adorable together.”
Ariel
hopped from one foot to the other, clapping her hands excitedly with a soft
squeal. Her shoulder-length hair bounced with her movements.
Carol couldn’t contain her excitement
either. After all, it was their first victory. Almost.
Ariel’s smile seemed to brighten the
entire room and her skin glowed. She tapped her arm in warning to tone it down.
They were among the humans, dressed and dolled up for the occasion.
They treated themselves to a glass
of champagne, wondering why humans preferred this drink in the first place.
“To our first success.” Pepper
lifted her glass, copying the humans nearby.
They clinked their glasses then took
a sip, eyes surveying the crowd.
The mission today was very
important. A few feet away, their targets sat at a nearby table talking merrily
with colleagues. The woman looked so beautiful and Carol would say her skin was
glowing with how happy she was at that moment.
The Christmas party was in full
swing. People were dancing in groups or as couples. Their chatter was louder
than the soft music playing in the ballroom, which was decorated in brilliant
shades of red, green, and gold. You could also see a dash of white here and
there.
Most of the partygoers were dressed
in red or black but there were a few who provided splashes of gold and silver
making it absolutely beautiful. While the human way of celebrating Christmas
was still new to the three angels, they found it entertaining nonetheless. No
one questioned their presence here and didn’t linger too long in one place or
stop to strike up a conversation.
They were here for a different
reason. Their task was to bring two potential lovers together, work some magic
to help them start a new chapter in their life. It was always a joyous occasion
when two people came together. The love radiating off, brought so much joy to
the angels and hence, they loved this job more than anything.
However, compared to the other
angels in this line of work, these three were yet to taste their first success.
Coined as misfits among the cupid angels for their clumsiness and reckless
behavior since they sprouted wings, this was going to change their reputation.
Finally, they’d be able to walk with heads held high.
After
tonight, no one will ever call us misfits ever again.
They planned everything so
meticulously. Nothing could go wrong. Carol was so confident and it showed in
her posture.
When the man stood, Carol nudged the
others. It was time. He strode toward the buffet, probably to grab a snack
since they had dinner earlier. The woman excused herself from the table to
follow him.
Perfect.
He stopped by the desserts, eyes
analyzing every option with interest. This was the angelic triad’s chance.
They immediately hurried to their
positions, ready to work their magic. A snap of celestial fingers slowed time.
He grabbed two plates of fancy-looking cake slices and pivoted on his heel. The
woman was getting close.
“Now!”
Carol snapped her fingers, sending gold
sparkles around the man with a puff of white smoke. The woman continued to
approach him with a bright smile.
Just
a few more seconds.
Once their eyes met, the enchantment
would click into place. Tension coiled around Carol’s shoulders as she
carefully watched, praying to the Father in heaven for everything to go smooth
for once.
The corner of Carol’s lip twitched
as the targets drew closer with each step. The man averted his gaze for a
moment, nodding toward his colleague once.
Anytime
now.
She anxiously waited as the seconds
ticked away ever so slowly. Just as their eyes were about to meet, someone came
crashing into his path.
No!!!
There was no time to correct the
mistake. Carol watched in horror as the man and the stranger’s eyes locked.
Another woman who should have never been here in the first place stood there in
front of him instead of her target in a red dress.
Oh,
no!
The magic snapped in place,
bewitching them. Her bewildered gaze flicked to Ariel and Pepper demanding
answers, only to see Ariel standing up and dusting her dress with a pout on her
lips.
They
failed again.
Chapter
1
The thing about working in the same
office, and also on the same floor, was that everyone knew everything. Who
dated whom, the hook-ups, what their pets ate for last night’s dinner, office
politics, you name it.
Amanda had a love-hate relationship
with her office and by extension, her colleagues. Now don’t get her wrong, she
loved working as any workaholic woman in her late twenties did. On the other
hand, she might be a special case because she loved her work a little bit too
much.
As she struck a glance around her,
observing colleagues flitting around, going on and about their Christmas plans
and what nots, realized she shared not an ounce of their enthusiasm. It was
mid-November and still time for Christmas. One whole month to be specific. She
didn’t understand why they got all hyped up now.
It wasn’t that she didn’t like
Christmas. She did. It was just that she didn’t have a reason to celebrate
anymore.
Christmas used to be fun when her
father was alive. They would follow some silly traditions and there was so much
joy. After his untimely demise and mom’s remarriage, she just lost her purpose
somewhere along the road.
“So Amanda, what are your plans for
this Christmas?” Madeline, the ever-nosy neighbor pried.
Ah,
there it is. Why did she even think they’d leave
her alone?
Amanda shrugged. “Don’t know.”
“Let me guess,” Madeline drawled
from where she was perched on her desk. “Cuddling with your cat in the living
room, binging on random Christmas movies on TV and probably reading a book.”
She ignored the verbal jab with
another shrug. How she spent her Christmas was none of their business. Really.
Amanda forced a tight smile that
probably looked constipated while her mind screamed—leave me alone!
“How can you not have any plans for
Christmas?” Layla, another co-worker piped into the conversation.
Another shrug was sent her way too. What was wrong with spending Christmas
alone? She had done that for the past three years and it was great.
“You have the most boring life I’ve
ever known.” Madeline sighed. “Come on, don’t you ever feel the need to get
out?”
“I do go out,” she defended.
Was it wrong to enjoy the company of
her cat more than anyone else? In her defense, after the last guy, she couldn’t
think of wasting her time or energy on anyone else. And didn’t think there was
a guy who was worth her time.
“Alone.” Layla pointed out. “You
don’t even have a date for this Christmas party. Again.”
Amanda did have friends, but after
graduating, all drifted apart and went on with their lives. They spoke
occasionally, but weren’t close enough to hang out.
“I don’t see anything wrong in going
solo.”
She didn’t. Amanda wouldn’t have
found the conversation nosy or intruding if they were truly concerned. She knew
what they spoke behind her back. They teased and sometimes even made fun of her
lifestyle when she wasn’t around and it hurt.
“When was the last time you’ve been
on a date? You’re twenty-eight and it’s sad to see you like this,” Madeline
continued.
Amanda sank in her seat, bracing
herself for the familiar conversation. It was always the same. Sometimes, she
just couldn’t decide if they were actually concerned for her wellbeing or had a
different motive.
What
should I do?
It wasn’t her fault she was an
introvert and had trouble connecting with strangers.
Not that she didn’t try to move on.
She did. Really did. Especially with a guy from the office who got along with
her over the years. He was always visiting her corner office, bringing coffee
and treating her to lunch. He even remembered her favorite appetizer she had
munched on several lunches ago.
Greg was a great guy, maybe even a
good friend. However, he kept sending mixed signals that confused the heck out
of her. At one point, she liked him more than a friend. And would have loved
for it to grow into something more, even dreamt of a day he’d ask her out.
However, when he finally did, she
couldn’t rejoice. Because two years ago on the supposed first date he ended up
flirting with another co-worker and ignored her for the rest of the night. So,
she had taken a step back and decided to call it quits.
It shouldn’t hurt the way it did, but
had expected more. Whom was she kidding? After going so long without a pinch of
affection from the opposite gender, it felt great to have someone’s attention.
So when he appeared super interested
in her she hoped it would turn into something more. Only his actions sabotaged
everything and Amanda being the cautious woman, decided whatever was going on
between them must stop.
Also, even if that date was meant to
be platonic, he should have never ditched her like that. He didn’t even have
the courtesy to tell her that he found someone else.
Then onward, it was only
professional with them. They still talked and went for lunch together, but that
was always what they would be.
When the co-workers left her cubicle,
a half an hour later, realized she had zoned out for most of their
conversation, which in her opinion was good. With a shrug, then got back to
work, the only thing she was good at.
Later that night, when lying with
her cat curled on her stomach and watching a random movie, she realized how
monotonous her life was. It was the same routine every day—wake up, eat, work,
snooze around and sleep.
Her life was less complicated this
way and was happy. If she looked back, there wasn’t anything that would be
missed. Again she wasn’t exactly living a full life per se. Didn’t have any
close friends and the occasional hangouts with office buddies didn’t really
count. It was too comfortable and just so peaceful however, it could get lonely
at times.
Like now when feeling like she could
have used the company, she didn’t have anyone. She slowly stroked the fur of
her American short-haired cat, Snow while immersed deep in thought.
“I’m lonely, aren’t I?” she
questioned.
The cat meowed in response.
She adopted Snow two years ago on a
whim. Having the adult cat helped take away some of her loneliness, but she
occasionally longed for some human company. How long had it been since she had
a heartfelt chat with a friend? Any friend.
She forgot what it felt like to have
a normal interaction with a pal. Someone who was always in your corner to talk
nonsense and laugh at your silliness, to make fun with and to lean on when she
was sad.
It was one of those days she
analyzed her life’s choices. Amanda didn’t plan her life this way. It just
happened. She guessed the people she once thought of as close friends, all had
their own lives to worry about, that they simply had no time for her anymore.
“Why am I like this?” She hit her
head with a pillow. “Why can’t I get out and just have a regular life?” She
stared at the ceiling. “Why do I have to spend my Christmas alone?”
It
was your choice, idiot.
Of course, she preferred to spend it
alone instead of spending it with her mom’s new family. Among the things she
had to put up with were the step sisters, a real pain in the ass.
She thought about her mother’s
nagging concerning her love life, her stepfather’s ‘I-know-the-best-for-you’
talks and her step sisters’ habit of rubbing their successful professional and personal
lives in her face. Yeah, she was better off spending it alone.
With an exaggerated sigh, she picked
up Snow and headed to the bedroom. Maybe this was for the better. A bookish
romance might be the only action she might get for a while. Who was she to deny
herself that pleasure?
Snow snuggled into her as usual with
another soft ‘meow’ as Amanda settled with her favorite book. However, what
should have been a relaxing reading session only seemed to increase her
deep-buried longing to be looked at fondly, to have casual, deep thoughtful
conversations with someone, and to be held lovingly while she slept.
A tear trickled down her cheek. Is it too much to ask?
To have someone to share a life
with; talk, laugh, love, and cherish.
Why was it so hard for her, while
others seemed to not have any trouble finding men left, right and center? Were
her expectations too high?
Amanda just didn’t know how to find
anyone to date. She began to go on occasional evening strolls and took detours
to a nearby coffee shop every morning, hoping to run into someone. What more
could she do?
How
does one find a decent man to date?
She didn’t even want to think about
dating apps after a few disasters. At this rate, only a miracle could land her
a boyfriend. With a sigh, she directed her gaze towards the ceiling.
“Hey, guardian angels, if you’re
listening, give me a boyfriend for Christmas, please. I’m so sick and tired of
being alone.”
What
am I doing?
She shook her head. Reading all
these holiday romance stories lately must have been messing with her mind. With
a snort, she looked down to bury her face into Snow’s fur.
“Yeah, big guy, send someone to
sweep me off my feet before I grow old and adopt ten more cats.”
Amanda laughed at her silliness
before immersing herself in the novel, wondering if she would ever find a man
like that.
Chapter
2
As Amanda got lost in reading, a
dove flapped its wings outside her window. It cooed incoherent syllables as it
flew to the rooftop where its friends were waiting.
The other two birds were alerted to
its presence, and after several squawks and coos with a flap of wings, they
shifted into their angelic form.
“What the fuck were you saying?” As
the first one spat feathers out of her mouth. “It’s been years and we still
haven’t perfected our bird language.”
“I said the human sent a prayer,”
said the second one.
“What?” The third one gasped.
The second one nodded vehemently. “I
heard it with my two ears.”
“Everyone has two ears, you idiot,”
the first one snapped. “Tell me everything.”
So the second one delved into the
details, briefing the other two about their human charge.
The three worked for Kemuel, the
guardian angel in charge of the said human. They were the helper angels who
called themselves cupids, because all they did was match make. The three were
also concerned because they were deeply in trouble now that the human called
out to her guardian angel.
“We screwed up big time.” Pepper,
the third one slid down and sat on the rooftop with her back pressed to the
wall. They picked up many habits from humans over the years, and it had now
become their second nature, like breathing.
“Everything was going great,” Carol,
the first one, said accusingly. “But you had to ruin it at the last possible
moment.”
With the human population increasing
at an alarming rate, the guardian angels were given more humans to take care of
and that was where these helper angels came in. Their task was simple. The
guardian angels were handed the names of potential love interests their humans
had and they just needed to make sure these two individuals met under favorable
conditions. Sometimes, even sprinkled a pinch of magic, creating an initial
attraction. The rest depended on the humans.
However, these three cupids were
notoriously known for their mess-ups. After the first three guardian angels
they were assigned to kicked them out, they ended up with the most stoic
guardian angel, Kemuel, who was a literal pain in their asses. If they failed
this mission, they’d be kicked out again and sadly no other guardian angel
would take them in.
“I tripped.” Ariel, the second one,
plopped beside Piper with a pout.
The three were excited to have
finally been accepted by Kemuel, though he was the hardest angel to work for.
When they received Amanda, they were keen to not mess this up under any
circumstances.
They had worked diligently to bring
Greg and Amanda closer. However, Amanda being like a hermit crab, it took a lot
of time, effort, and a shit ton of magic to get her where they wanted. On the
other hand, Greg was like a puppet, easy to string along.
Long story short, endless lunch
dates later, Greg plucked the courage to ask Amanda out to an office party. The
three were elated because they were so close to their first success in almost a
century.
So when Greg grabbed two plates of
cake, Carol had sprinkled some magic in the air. Just as Greg was about to go
toward Amanda, Ariel tripped, accidentally pushing another woman in his
direction.
Greg ended up flirting with the
woman and Amanda friend-zoned him. Nothing they did had ever worked again. The
thing was, though they were angels, they had limits. They could only influence
human decisions; use a moment of the target’s weakness to their advantage. A
push here and a pull there was enough to get the job done.
“Kemuel is gonna kill us,” Carol
groaned.
When he found out about their
mishap, he had blown up on them. Because by doing so, they changed someone
else’s destiny, thereby initiating several chain reactions. In his fancy
language called it the butterfly effect.
The amount of paperwork they had to
manage, made them cry out in frustration. Plus the name of a new potential love
interest wasn’t easy to come by.
“It has been two years and we are
still stuck with this one,” Pepper lamented. Kemuel wouldn’t let them work with
any of his other charges.
However, they didn’t have to fret
any longer because they saw a white butterfly approaching them.
“Oh, no,” Piper murmured.
“Incoming,” Carol warned.
The butterfly landed on the floor,
taking the shape of one particular guardian angel. Kemuel was a man of average
height. He stood at five feet nine inches with a lean build and pale skin. His
eyes were small, yet sharp like that of a hawk. His straight nose led to a pair
of thin lips that were pulled into a tight scowl.
For someone his height, packed one
hell of a punch. Well, figuratively. His scowl deepened when his gaze landed on
them. Pepper and Ariel jumped to their feet.
“Adapting to a lot of human habits,
I see,” he spoke in a lazy tone, eyes looking around. “Nice place.” He sniffed
before pinning them on their spot with an intense gaze that was sharper than a
knife. “Wanna explain why the human prayed for help?”
All three looked at their feet,
hands clasped in front of them.
“We tried,” Pepper answered
dejectedly. “She won’t give him any more chances.”
“Because you ruined the moment,” he
pointed out. “Humans change their minds in a blink of an eye, which is why our
job is important. We have to utilize the right moment for it to work out.”
“We’re sorry,” Ariel apologized. “We
will do everything to make this right.”
“This was the same thing you said
the last time,” he scoffed.
An awkward silence filled the place
before he spoke again. “I’ll give you one more chance.” The three angels
squealed only to stop when he lifted a finger, silencing them. “Only because I
saw how hard you worked on this and it was an accident.”
“Thank you.” Ariel bounced on the balls of her feet.
“We won’t mess up this time,” Pepper
added, with a hand over her heart.
“We promise,” Carol assured, then
glanced at the other two before looking at her boss with confidence.
Kemuel pulled a card from inside his
pocket. “Do you have any idea how much paperwork goes behind this?”
“We will do our best and stay on
guard all the time,” Carol declared again.
“You better be. This is your last
chance.” He handed the card to her. “You have until this Christmas to set
things right.”
“Thank you! Thank you!” All three
bowed excitedly and watched him leave, turning back into a butterfly, flying
away.
“That went a lot better than I
expected.” Pepper let out a relieved sigh.
“Yeah,” Ariel agreed. “So what do we
do now?”
Carol opened the card to see the
name. “The usual.” She grinned. “We set them up!”
Chapter
3
Matchmaking was easier said than
done. No one knew the hard work these cupids had to do to get their charges
onto the boat of romance.
Ariel, Carol and Pepper were
following a potential romantic interest of their charge, Amanda, for almost two
weeks now. Jordan Lee, a thirty-year-old, handsome Asian-American, who had just
moved to Linnesse a couple of months ago.
Since breaking off his engagement
six months ago, He hadn’t been in any other relationships and needed to get
away from his hometown for a fresh start. This action had led him right to the
dynamic trio.
“This man practically lives on
coffee.” Ariel scrunched her nose in distaste as the smell of the bitter liquid
invaded her senses. She still didn’t understand why humans loved it so much.
She preferred sweet things and her first run-in with plain coffee didn’t end
well.
“He’s just like Amanda. All his
friends are back in his hometown and he hasn’t made any new ones here. He lives
alone with his dog named Moon, and relies heavily on takeout,” Pepper read,
going through her notes.
“He’s handsome though,” Carol
commented. “Just our Amanda’s type.”
Jordan was tall and handsome with a
beautiful smile and gentle eyes. His permed black hair fell over his eyes in
soft waves. The heavenly trifecta noticed he was also soft-spoken and respectful.
However, the problem here was they both had a hermit-crab lifestyle.
It was time to move on to the next step of
their plan, now they had Amanda and Jordan’s daily schedule somewhat down to a
T. Their task might sound simple, but it was no easy feat. Getting these two
strangers to meet and then fall in love was one of the toughest tasks.
Both Amanda and Jordan loved their
solidarity. And barely left their apartments if it wasn’t for work or to run
some errands. In Jordan’s case, Moon had pulled him out of his apartment twice
a day for a walk. As a freelance illustrator and an artist, his workstation was
set up in his apartment, which didn’t require him to go out at all.
The cupids carefully analyzed and
weighed their options, both lived closer, but the chances of them running into
each other were slim. Almost none at this point. So they needed a plan of
action, which was why they were following Jordan religiously for days.
It probably was creepy to have three
white doves hanging around his apartment all the time, especially in winter.
Ariel swore that Moon would one day eat them for dinner. Well, that dog was
sneaky and almost grabbed Pepper’s tail feathers when they weren’t being
careful and too invested in eavesdropping on one of Jordan’s phone conversations.
As cute as the toy poodle might be,
imagine becoming dinner to one of the fur balls these humans deemed harmless.
Ariel’s body shuddered at the thought.
They were huddled together in a café
with steaming mugs of hot chocolate cradled in their palms. Ariel and Pepper
were going back and forth with their ideas, debating the pros and cons while
Carol carefully listed the flaws in their plan… when it happened.
The air was suddenly charged with
magic and they could almost taste it on their tongue. Every angel had unique
magic and this one was a bit too familiar.
In front of them, a woman clad in
layers of her winter clothing, grabbed her coffee order from the counter, eyes
glued to her phone in the other hand. It was cliché, something they often saw
happening in movies, but still, it got the job done.
They watched as the scene unfurled
in slow motion. The door to the café opened with a ding of the bell. A man
walked into the small establishment typing furiously on his phone.
The woman ran into him, a surprised
yelp left her lips and her eyes widened as her coffee slipped from her grip.
The phone slipped too, but she deemed saving the phone was top priority since
she let go of the coffee and grabbed her phone with dear life. As she did, she
stumbled and began to fall backward. But now the man had recovered from his
initial shock and was already wrapping an arm around her waist, pulling her
toward him and thereby saving her from the fall.
Right then, they heard a magical
tingling, too low and inaudible for human senses to pick up. Golden sparkles
lit the air in a flourish of pink smoke. The trio scrunched their noses in
unison and shared a knowing look.
Victor.
The man and woman’s eyes connected,
both stood there being mesmerized by each other’s gaze. It took a few seconds
for them to realize their surroundings and the situation they were in.
“I’m sorry. I really should have
looked where I was going,” the man was the first to apologize.
The woman smiled. “I’m glad you
didn’t.”
The man straightened, finally
releasing her as his gaze slid to the ruined coffee that was on the floor. “I’m
sorry about that. Let me make it up to you. How about a cup of coffee? I see a
table for two with a nice view of the street,” he said pointing at one of the
corner tables and sure enough, it had the best view of the street.
Ariel whistled low under her breath.
“Smooth.”
However, they didn’t have long
before Victor emerged from behind the couple with a grin matching his name. The
three cupids scowled, not bothering to hide their displeasure.
The fellow cupid in question was a
tiny thing, standing a couple of inches taller than four feet. His short hair
was dyed blonde and styled in spikes. Ariel noticed a few pink highlights among
the strands. He wore an expensive-looking burgundy suit with diamond cufflinks
and several pieces of luxurious jewelry adorned his body.
“Show off,” Pepper mumbled.
Victor was also one with a temper
hotter than the Mexican pepper that turned Carol’s face red while running
around like a dog with her tongue out. His features contorted as soon as his
gaze landed on them.
“Ah, here to take notes from me
again?”
Ariel narrowed her eyes. The other
two pursed their lips and fists clenched under the table. He loved to rub his
success in other cupid’s faces. Why
wouldn’t he? The shiny star badges that lined the lapel of his jacket were
testaments to his achievements as a star cupid. There was none like him.
“Believe it or not, you were just
the angels I wanted to see today,” he continued, ignoring their reactions as
usual.
Victor was one of the most
successful cupids in the market with the highest success ratio and was also the
most demanded among the guardian angels. In contrast, this trio of misfits were
the troublemakers and yet to have their first success. He never failed to rub
that in their faces whenever he ran into them.
Rumors among the angels claimed that
Victor would be promoted to a guardian angel as reward for his achievements. It
shouldn’t bruise their ego, because the man was a legend with over a thousand
successful matches under his belt.
“Had a nice little chat with Raphael
on my way here actually. The poor thing needs more subordinates and I took the
liberty to recommend your names.” Victor smiled slyly. “You can thank me
later.”
“What?” the three asked in unison,
eyes wide as they let his word sink in.
Raphael was one of the low-level
angels who was tasked with taking care of the animals, especially the
endangered species. Yes, animals had guardian angels too. However, the position
wasn’t something an angel of their caliber looked forward to. Only misfits and
the ones who flunked were sent to Raphael. In short, he got the worst end of
the stick.
While the trio had nothing against
Raphael, they certainly didn’t wish to end up with him. That would be a
disaster.
“So excited, I see.” Victor clapped
his hands in glee. “I knew you’d be happy. Raphie was delighted as well.” He
laughed and his eyes landed on their notes. “I see you’re working hard. When
you have failed this task and Kemuel kicks you out, at least you can go to
Raphael.”
“We aren’t going anywhere,” Pepper
hissed.
Victor shrugged nonchalantly. “Just
sayin’.”
They wanted to say more, tell him
they wouldn’t fail this time. But Victor was already backing out of the café
with that stupid knowing smile of his. In the corner of the café, the newly met
couple were laughing with each other, blissfully ignorant of everything that
happened around them.
Ariel’s features tightened with
determination. They wouldn’t fail this time. And would succeed even if it cost
them Pepper’s tail.
