Chapter 23

(Chapter song ‘Terrible Lie’ by Nine Inch Nails)

PENELOPE I won’t say this object Jesse had didn’t make me nervous. There’s just something about it that puts a sense of evil in my heart. I suppose that’s the reason I agreed to his plans for it.

As far as his plans for our future, I won’t say I don’t want it. His intentions this time seem genuine. He still won’t tell me he loves me which is starting to concern, but he’s excited about providing for me and I’ll be happy with that if he truly wants to escape his life here. We can find the peace we need in each other and maybe then he can admit that he loves me.

I hung out the sheets on the line between two trees when Jesse rode in.

I smile and remove my apron, placing it in my basket.

He jumps down and I get a bit scared at his state. Bruised and bloody, I feel he has run into trouble. I hope this doesn’t mean his expectation of our escape is ruined.

“My dear, what happened?” I say as he approaches me. I place a hand on his cheek and look over his wounds.

“I’m fine, Pea. I’ll heal. We need to leave. Now.” He turns to the house. “Dakota!!”

The door opens and the men file out.

“Pack what ya need, we’re moving out.” He orders.

“What’s going on?” Justice says.

“We’ve been made. I need everyone on horseback right now.” He sounds troubled and rushed.

“Jesse, what does this mean?” I try to gather the source of this.

“Pea. Just do as I say and grab yer stuff.” He walks to the horse and puts stuff in his saddle bag.

“No. She won’t.”

He turns and his face scowls. He points in my face as I watch through eyes that are not mine. “Caliel, I ain’t got time for you.” He strides to the house and walks in.

Caliel is right on his back. “Then make time! What the hell did you do?”

“Nothing!” He barks.

“The fear in this woman says different, Jesse.” Caliel stops in front of the boys. They all stop and wait for Jesse to answer.

He turns with his arms out. “Alright. I may or may not have pissed off a demon.”

“What?”

“Jess…What you playing at?”

“Wait…Demons are real?”

“You didn’t. You stupid shit!” Caliel steps to him.

“Ok. It wasn’t the smartest. Now, we have to go." He continues to pack.

Caliel leans to his side as Jesse throws clothes in a bag. “You think you can just outrun him? He’s a fucking demon, Jesse!”

“I left his broken ass to get beat by locals. I don’t think he’s a that big a threat.” Jesse smirks.

“Was he in this girl’s father? The preacher?” Caliel asks.

Jesse stops. “He didn’t look like a preacher and definitely too young to be Peas daddy.”

“He was in the wrong vessel. He was weak. They can’t be contained in just anyone. That’s the only reason it was easy to escape him. I can guarantee he’s gone back to the preacher and he will be too strong to beat. You have no idea what you’ve done.” Caliel says with irritation.

Jesse holds his hand up. “The more we yammer here, that will be the case. Now quit whinin’ and pack!”

“What…did…you…DO!?” I feel Caliels anger build in him. The voices in my head get louder.

Jesse eyes him. “I reneged a deal.” Jesse grumbles.

“Holy shit!”

“You dealed with a demon?”

His men grow concerned and unsettled.

Caliel looks down to the floor. “Please…tell me you didn’t cut a deal with Dagin.” He grits quietly.

Jesse stands tall. “Yeah, I did. So what?”

I see Caliels eye meet Jesse’s. His blood fills with rage. I have no control over my movements.

Before I can understand, Caliel strikes Jesse’s face with a power never possessed in my life. I screamed in my body as the voices out whisper my pain. The feel of Jesse jaw being hit by my fist has me sobbing in my mind.

Jesse’s head is pushed to the side as his boys collectively get serious looks and draw their guns. I hear them cock like bullets in my ears. Caliel never takes his eyes off Jesse.

Jesse rubs his jaw, raises his hand to his men and waves them down. He rolls his tongue in his cheek.

“Ok.” He ticks his jaw. “Ya got issues. I’ll give ya that.” He nods. “Hidin’ behind a woman. Smart.” He says low. His tone says he wants to hit back, but Caliel is shielded by me.

“What did you deal?” Caliel snarls.

“A cross. A black one.” Jesse says quietly.

I feel that rage again. “You…You had the cursed cross?”

“I guess.” Jesse shrugs.

“Rubies?”

“Yes.”

“Green stone?” Caliel nods.

Jesse nods to. “Yes.”

Caliel fights his anger as he places his hands on his hips. I can only watch as he boils inside with me.

“Where is it?” He flares his eyes. I feel his power build and his eyes start to glow white. The boys step backwards.

Jesse’s face falls. “I pawned it.”

“Pawned it.” Caliel presses his lips together. He rubs his head and almost chuckles.. He swallows his heat. “You pawned…the key…to the cage…” He raises his head. “OF FUCKING…DEATH!!!” My heart exploded in fear as Caliels voice boomed so loud the small house shook. I heard the horses panic outside.

Jesse stood as still as stone. I can barely make out the sheen of sweat building.

I feel Caliel slip into a form of mad thought. He laughs and shakes his head. “Of course.” He throws an arm out and turns. He walks to the men. “Fucking apes.” He turns back. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

Jesse stood silent for a moment. “Yeah. I got mine. This…key? It’s not my problem. Just be glad I didn’t hand to Dagin like he wanted.”

I couldn’t even keep up. The sound of feathers flap and within a blink, Jesse is choking against the wall. His feet dangling over the floor. I see him covered in white light. Jesse holds my arm as he tries to break free.

“CALIEL! STOP IT! UNHAND HIM NOW!” I shout in my mind.

“You released the cursed key into the world. The thing we’ve been hiding for over 10, 000 years. The one thing the allows Death to walk the planet freely.” I hear the feathers again as I feel myself lift off the floor.

Jesse’s men start to panic and mumble confusions.

Caliel moves close. “I should tear your fucking soul apart piece by piece.”

“Penelope…” Jesse chokes.

“CALIEL!!” I scream.

The whispers of heaven circle and surround me. They quickly get louder and louder. I have to cover my ears.

I whine and cry as I fight the noise. I look to Caliel and I see he’s fighting too. I feel him struggling hard.

I see Jesse’s eyes narrow and Caliel drops to the ground.

“You…are…a…” Caliel pants. “Fucking dumbass.” He lets Jesse go, stumbles back holding his head and falls. I’m thrown into my mind and can’t hear or see anything.

“Jesse…” My voice echoes in the dark.

****

JESSE I hold my neck as I hack and cough my breath back.

I turn to Penelope. She’s passed out on the floor.

I walk over and scoop her up.

“Get packed.” I growl hoarsely as I walk Penelope to the bed and lay her down.

“What was that?”

I feel her forehead and straighten her hair. “I just needed to give her the best life.”

“Ya had enough, Jesse. You didn’t need to go makin' deals with no demons!” Dakota grits under his breath.

I look at my Sweet Pea. “It’s never enough. I will never have enough when it comes to her.” I lean down and kiss her forehead.

“No woman is worth sellin’ yer soul for, brother.” He says.

I look over my shoulder. If he only knew. “She is.”

“What was the deal?” He asks.

“I get the cross, he takes care of Art and I keep her.” I smile as I run the back of my fingers across her smooth cheek. My heart pains because of how much I fucked that up.

“You love her.” He states.

I look down then over my shoulder. “Don’t you have a horse to pack?”

“I hope you know what you’re doing.” He grumbles and leaves.

I turn back to Penelope who looks so beautiful as she sleeps. I hold her hand and place a hand on her head. “I hope so, too.”

****

Penelope woke about an hour later. She was quiet. Felt distant. I think Caliel scared her something fierce this time. It couldn’t have been easy hearing and seeing all that.

I guided my horse with her in my lap wrapped in a blanket. She rested on my chest as I rode us out to the middle of nowhere.

Justice’s horse trotted up beside me. “How is she?”

I look down to the little girl curled up, chewing on her nail. “I don’t know.” I press my lips to the top of her head.

“This is crazy, Jesse. Angels and demons? I mean, this is real.” He stitches his brow.

“It’s real and it’s fixin' to kill us. We need to get somewhere where we’re protected. Lots of people. A place where they can’t start anythin’ without exposing themselves.” I say as I stare out to the patchy, red desert. The dark is setting in and we have a four day travel.

“Where’s that?” He asks.

I glance at him. “Nevada.” I click my teeth and my horse trots faster. The rhythmic bouncing must have been calming enough because when I see Penelope face, she’s sleeping. “You sleep, baby. I’m takin’ care of ya.”

I just hope I can take care of myself.

The key to Deaths cage was sitting right in my hand and I threw it to God’s half acre. Who knows whose hand it’s in now.

If Art or the demon get it…Fuck, Jesse. How could ya? I felt something off it. I felt the bad. I had the thought it wasn’t a good idea. I certainly knew Dagin shouldn’t have it. I should have turned his deal down. Now, we have targets on our backs and it's because of me.

I rest my chin on her head. I put her in danger. I put them all in danger. I should have turned away. I couldn’t help it. I can’t just turn my back. At this point, she’s in danger whether I’m here or not. Art will find a way to use her. He’ll hunt her down knowing I’d come running. No. She’s safer with me. If I die protecting her…

At least I can tip my hat and say…I tried.