Akira could feel the boy breathing down her neck. A tickling feeling as he exhaled made her body stiff and her muscles alert. It was a split decision of fight or flight. Her racing heart was like a drum set in a fast-paced song, and though it was cold, her face had bids of sweat.
The boy slowly moved back looking into her dark Asian eyes. She could not help but marvel at his emerald, green eyes which seemed to glow like the neon lights in the streets. Suddenly, he let out a hearty laugh as he sat back unpinning her from his grasp.
"My name is Jey. I hope I didn't frighten you too much, I was attempting a joke" he said stretching out his hand.
It took a second to regain her composure. She took his hand then she slowly sat up straight looking at him with skepticism. The cold harsh demeanor he had earlier was completely gone, vanished. Still, there was a lingering feeling of surprise and uncertainty.
"Am Akira," she said.
"Well Akira, it's nice to meet you," he leaned forward forcing an uncomfortable eye contact.
Then voop!. A startling sound was made that made Akira fall on her back and her heart close to a heart attack. A huge pair of dark wings with white tips on the edges were dangling on his back.
"Your reaction is not bad. Most humans faint the first time they see my wings," he said, "and this is not your first time though, is it?"
She collected her thoughts and once again sat up. Still, there was an aftertaste of fear in her mouth that made her swallow.
"I have, are you here to hurt me?"
"No. No . . . no . . . I won't hurt you Akira. I hope," he said.
He spoke with a reassuring tone. His words carried a certain depth, like when a person says, "I will kill you", but instead of shouting, they say it slowly, and with complete sincerity.
"Ok, then why are you here?" she asked.
"Before we get to business, I believe it is customary in Japan to make tea for anyone that comes as a guest,"
"Right!" Akira said with a bit of enthusiasm, "Give me a few minutes."
"This is my chance, I can call for backup," she thought.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," said Jey, "call for help I mean. It's written all over your face."
"I won't," she said with a nervous laugh, her voice losing the energy.
" That would be nice, I would kill you and your family before Cain gets here," he said smiling so gently.
"How can a cute guy have such a scary face," she wondered as she walked out of the room, " wait, he knows Cain?"
* * *
9.45 pm. Jey noted the time as his eyes darted around the room. The room was small, with a girly charm and a dominant pink color. There were stuffed animals on the bed, a small Japanese table that guests knelt under, and a huge computer set-up consisting of two 42-inch screens and some gaming equipment.
"Cinnamon, I like it," Jey said.
He gave a relaxing sigh as he took it. Akira sat opposite to him in a seiza (In this traditional posture, one kneels on the floor, sitting back on the heels with the tops of the feet flat on the floor and the toes pointing backward. The knees are close together, and the hands rest on the thighs).
"It's been a while since I was in the human world," Jey said, "I often forget how fragile your race is."
Their eyes met, and she averted her gaze almost immediately. She blankly looked at the golden-brown liquid as the steam rose.
"Do you know why your heart races when you look at me?' he asked.
She looked up puzzled. He moved closer to her their faces just inches apart. In a quick panic, she moved back spilling the tea. He laughed and sat back, and as he did, the tea that had spilled collected into droplets and settled in the cup on the table.
"You're a character," she said with an annoyed smile.
"I got you to smile, that's nice," he said.
He sipped his tea and then continued.
"You see, Angels and Fallen Angels aren't like the other races. While the rest were created in the image of the Entity, we weren't."
She looked at him still puzzled but with a keen interest that he enjoyed.
"An image, as you know can be like an idol, a picture, or . . . a reflection. When humans look at themselves in the mirror they only see the image of an image. That's just more layers. Unlike the other races, we have no layers."
"Have no layers, how so?" she asked springing up.
She was now close to his face. She realized it and sat back down but was still intrigued.
"When you take two mirrors and put them at a right angle, then you might experience a similar feeling you get when you see an Angel or a fallen angel. That's another reason we are incapable of lying because we were not created in the image of the Entity, we are like the Entity."
"Wait, you can't lie?" Akira asked thoughtfully.
"We can't, we get a similar feeling you get when you try to push an unmovable rock, it gets tighter and tighter until. We fall."
"Fall?' she asked.
"We become Devils. Worse than an Angel or a Demon, Devils are liars, thieves, and destroyers."
There was silence after he said this. He sipped his tea and looked at her.
"But that's a rare case, it's nearly impossible to even meet one, let alone happen"
"If you can't lie, what about secrets? Don't you have any?"
"A secret is not a lie, if I don't tell, then am not lying. A good way of this is if asked something you don't want to say, just evade, ignore, or simply refuse to answer."
Akira looked at him and smiled mischievously.
"Answer simply, do you think am cute?"
He smiled, "If you must know, you average at best, human standards are low, I am surprised Cain fell for one."
"Ouch . . . That was a bit rude,"
"I know, our inability to lie makes us unable to coexist with other races, as an Angel or a Fallen angel will simply say you're ugly if you are."
Akira was silent for a moment. Still taken aback.
"It reminds me of a poem I read by Anastacia. It goes:
Is it a monster or a saint?
He simply says,
I will kill you,
And then he does,
For he cannot lie." Akira narrated.
"That's impressive and beautiful," he said, "It almost seems like she talks of us."
"She's my favorite poet, a friend of mine got me hooked to her poems,"
"Ohh. . . Speaking of friends," he said looking at the wall clock . . . 9.53 pm "This brings me to the reason why am here. I was following your fox friend, but, I got bored because she is about to die."
Akira stood up immediately. Her eyes filled with horror. Her body was trembling.
"What do you mean by that? And how do you know that?"
"Does dying have a different meaning here? Her soul will depart her body and go to the afterlife. And how do I know that? I suppose you need some sort of proof then?"
He sipped his tea, then looked up at the clock again. He smiled, but the smile was sadistic.
"Sit and let's play a game shall we," he said.
She looked at him then her eyes briefly looked to the side. Just then she dashed for the door. But just as she was about to reach out for the doorknob, he stood in front of her.
"I said I didn't come here to hurt you, but that doesn't mean I won't. Her death is set in stone, no one can stop it. So, I suggest you sit down before I lose my temper."
Her face was still calm and collected. She clenched her fist and smacked his cheek. He looked at her pitifully.
"Happy now? Sit! I won't ask you again."
"Move out of my way, I won't say it twice," she said.
"What can you do?"
He used a cold and sinister tone that sent chills down her spine. She looked up, his eyes glowing crimson red. He pulled up her chin and looked at her closer.
"What do you think a human like you can do, you are powerless, weak, insignificant, just knowing that your friend will die is a privilege on its own. Sure, you may want to know that you made a difference, but no matter how hard you try, you will fail."
"So, you want me to do nothing, sit back and wait?"
She looked at him with blind determination. He smiled, then broke into hysterical laughter. His mood lightened.
"Mahn, I knew I liked you from the start," he said, "but still, know your limits. I will let you leave, but in doing so you will have sealed your friend's fate. I am the only one who can save her, not you and certainly not Cain."
"If we play this game, will it save Kitsune?"
"I don't know, but if it does know that it comes with a cost."
"Ok," she said moving back to her seat.
"I hope you know that you are making a deal with a demon, it won't be pretty,"
"Am ready to deal with the consequences, save Kitsune, please."
* * *
"Seems your love for your friend makes you illogical, at any rate, I would like to give you proof that I can save your friend."
He took a pack of sticky notes and a pen. He quickly scribbles some things on a few pages. He then took Akira's smartphone and handed it to her.
"Here, make a phone call to Kitsune."
Akira did as she was told. In a few seconds, her phone rang in her ear, and then a brief feeling of relief came to her when Kitsune picked up the phone. As she did Jey gestured to Akira to look at the writings on the sticky notes.
"Hey Aki, what's up?" came Kitsune's voice.
As she read the contents of the sticky notes she was at first surprised.
"Hey Kitsune just checking on you,"
"Am ok, but you sound worried are you ok Aki?"
Akira's eyes widened. She was silent for a moment unable to collect her words. Jey put his hand on his lips gesturing her to remain silent.
"Aki, Aki . . .Akira are you there? . . . "
Then behind her, she heard a familiar voice, Adam spoke.
"Is Miss Akira, okay?"
As she heard that a wave of panic came over her, but she composed herself.
"Am okay," Akira quickly said, "I have to go, something just came up."
"Ok then. . . Are sure you are okay though?"
"Am good Tsune, just had some soba, did not go well with the chilly?" she said with a laugh.
"That sounds rough, drink lots of water,"
"I will, good night Tsune . . . and I love you ok?"
"I love you too . . . night,"
Akira quickly ended the call and looked at Jey.
"How did you know the exact words Kitsune was going to say?"
Jey smiled mischievously, "It's a trade secret, but if you want to save Kitsune here is what you will do. ."
* * *
. . . "That's all I have to do?" asked Akira.
"Yes," said Jey, " I should be taking my leave now."
He opened the window. The cold winter breeze swept in. He turned and added.
"One last thing, your friend will die at exactly 10.23 tonight, it's 10.10 chop-chop little white Lamb."
He then vanished. Akira rushed for her phone. The usual password was taking longer than usual. Some keys were not responding.
"Come on, come on, come on," she said impatiently.
She then noted that it was her fingers that were sweaty. After wiping her hands on her sweater, the keys were more responsive.
She dialed a number. He placed the phone on her ear and listened in as she paced up and down the room. Then a female voice the receiver on the other end answered.
"How are you Miss Akira," said a familiar feminine voice.
"Is Cain around?" she asked, "Gabriel sorry to bother you suddenly but it's an emergency."
"Am afraid, he's not around right now, " she said.
At that moment, it felt like a sledgehammer had hit her. She took her coat and dashed out of her room.
"Where is he? When will he be back,"
"Hold on Miss Akira, calm down and tell me what the matter could be?"
"Sorry Gebriel, no time, please do what you can to reach him and . . ."
But then the phone she held dropped as she ran down the steps. The screen broke cutting off the call. She frantically picked it up and cursed as she did.
"Shit! Shit! Shit!"
"Aki no cursing in the house," came her mother's voice.
"Sorry Mom," she said putting the phone in her jacket and opening the door.
"And where are you going in such a rush?" came Kosuke's voice.
"To Kitsune's . . . It's a school thing,"
"It's past curfew, you just can't . . ." she had dashed out already, " Wait for me," he said quickly taking his jacket and running after her.
* * *
Jey watched her run from the top of a building. He smiled sadistically.
"I wonder what will come about this experiment."