Angels & Magic: A Bonus Collection Read online

“What if you could live forever, but that was taken from you?” The man hung his head. “Never mind. None of it matters.”

  “All that matters is that if you don’t wash up, you’ll die early. You’ll miss your future.”

  “My future?” He laughed. “I don’t have a future.”

  Jocelyn stepped forward, holding out an empty hand. “Let me show you.”

  He cocked his chin.

  She sighed. It was easier just to come clean. There was no reason to hide anything—it was the lesson she learned eight years ago. “I have premonitions. I see the present and the future. If you let me touch your skin, I can show you what I’ve seen.” She stepped forward, but he scooted away. “Come on. What harm am I?” She motioned to her lean body compared to his muscled one.

  His eyes glided from her head to her toes, but when she stepped forward, he took a step away, bumping into the back corner of the cavern. Jocelyn moved forward. When she was only a step from him, she bent her knees and set the water bottle down. She draped the rag over the top, keeping it clean, and slid her backpack on the ground.

  Again, she reached out, watching his eyes follow to her outstretched palm. He hugged the rocks behind him but didn’t move. She gently placed her hand on his bare shoulder. When her skin made contact, his dark blue eyes met hers and a shiver ran down her spine. An unspoken connection hummed between them she hadn’t expected, and from the look on his face, neither did he. Perhaps this would be easier than she thought.

  As hard as it was to leave his gaze, she shut her eyes. She searched for images from the first vision. The vision of him dying in this wilderness. His broken boy curled up in a pile upon the ground. She forced these thoughts into an energy that flowed through her arm, into her hand, and into his body. She channeled the pain he felt in her vision and sent it to him as well. Sweat formed on her forehead and her hand warmed against his skin.

  When she opened her eyes, his strong jawline had softened, his lips parted, and his wide eyes examined her.

  Jocelyn rubbed her hand that had been on his shoulder. “You see why we need to wash your wounds? All that can be avoided.”

  “I won’t try to avoid my fate.”

  “It’s not your fate. It’s one possible future. I can show you another.”

  “I don’t want to see.” He squeezed around her, heading towards the cavern exit. When Jocelyn spun to watch him flee, she saw his foot catch on her water bottle, sending it tumbling across the ground before smacking into a rock. A trail of wet ground marked its path.

  Jocelyn picked up the rag and shook it. Sand sprayed in all directions, causing a shower against the ground. She crossed the cavern and retrieved the empty water bottle.

  Shoot, shoot, shoot!

  The man continued toward the exit, but Jocelyn rushed in front of him, putting both hands on his chest and guiding him back into the cavern. He pushed, but she stood her ground. “Just listen to me. I have to help you, otherwise I’ll feel like a horrible person the rest of my life, and I don’t need more guilt. Let me show you what will happen if you clean up.” She smiled. “Please?”

  His lips twitched like he wanted to smile but didn’t want to get caught doing it. When his shoulders relaxed, she placed her hand against his bare chest. His hand rose and clasped hers, and when she caught in his intense gaze, she lost her breath. His blue eyes told a story she desperately wanted to hear. How long had it been since she’d been so close to a man?

  Now wasn’t the time.

  He lifted her hand and let go, causing her hand to drop to her side. His reply was clear and firm. “No.”

  This time when stepped around her toward the cavern’s exit, his back nearly glowed from the moonlight filtering in from the cavern’s open ceiling. Bright red blood smeared across his back and dripped from his wounds. Sand clung to the wetness and his wounds looked painful enough that she was surprised how straight and strong he stood.

  As she watched him move away from her, down the narrow trail, her thoughts were monopolized by memories of her fiancé. Of how he got in his car and she watched him drive away. Hoping she had done enough, but knowing, deep down, she hadn’t even tried to help.

  Tears threatened her eyes, and she pushed her way out of the cavern, after the fallen angel.

  3

  Jocelyn rushed onto the narrow path behind the angel and grabbed his arm. She snapped her eyes closed and focused, sending him visions of a future where he was healthy, happy, and healed. The vision of him at the water fountain watching the children play and of him older, sitting at a kitchen table at home.

  The man shook her hand off, and when she opened her eyes, she thought she saw a smile. “You are a persistent one.”

  She rubbed her hand. “You saw yourself, right? Saw how happy you were? See, you have another future where you don’t die.”

  He laughed and shook his head. “That’s not happiness. What I saw was loneliness. I sat on the bench at the fountain with nobody beside me. In my eyes was longing as I watched the children—wishing I was someone else. Then I sat at my kitchen table, alone again. My house hadn’t changed one bit, despite the gray hair on my temples. That’s not a life I want. Do you know what it’s like to be alone?”

  Jocelyn thought to her empty apartment. She knew all too well. The photos of her family that lived so far away. Of the one she still kept of her fiancé, reminding her happiness is out there. Of her Friday night dates with her remote control.

  He continued. “We’ll I’ve been alone for decades. That’s not the life I wish to live.”

  Jocelyn’s hands closed into fists, but she forced them to relax. “Come on. You’re not even giving life a chance. If you don’t want to do this for yourself, do it for me. Can you imagine how I’ll feel if I just leave you here?”

  “Fear not. I’m not worth saving.” He twisted around, giving her a good view of his back. “Do you know what I did to lose my wings?”

  She hadn’t thought about it.

  He turned to her, pointing at a shadow underneath his eye. “This black eye is minor. Just a little token of the fight, but do you know what happened to the other man?”

  She shook her head.

  “He almost died. I forgot how strong I was in comparison.” He shook his head. “But my strength is gone now, and I have nothing left to offer.”

  She examined his eye. What would cause this gentle and somewhat timid man to beat someone almost to death?

  He tilted his chin as if reading her thoughts. “It was over a woman.” He turned his back to her again and resumed his way down the narrow path, twisting his body and wiping blood from his back on the rocks. “But that’s not your problem.”

  With a clenched jaw, she returned to the cavern and gathered her backpack, washcloth, and spilled water bottle before heading after him. “No, it’s not my problem, but our current situation is. I’m going to help, whether you like it or not.”

  He twisted around, giving her a focused stare. “Even if I let you, you’re out of water.”

  Was she getting through to him? She thought to the river she walked beside earlier and was glad she had an antiseptic soap along as well. “I’ll get more water. There’s a river down the trail. Here, follow me.” She slipped out of her backpack and walked to him, placing her hands on his waist. She guided him to a larger opening, then pushed herself around his warm body on the narrow trail. Her foot caught his, and she stumbled, but he caught her hips. Jocelyn’s hands slid to the bare skin of his waist as she regained her footing, and her heart quickened. Her cheeks heated, and she looked away, pushing ahead on the trail.

  She led him the way she came, glancing back to ensure he followed.

  The trail elevated alongside the river. Jocelyn hugged the stone wall until she found a few large rocks leading down to the water. She hopped from one large rock to another, finally kneeling to refill her water bottle and wash the cloth with the antiseptic soap. The whole setup wasn’t sterile, but the spring fed river, antiseptic soap, and antibio
tic creams were the best she had. When she stood and turned, the angel was gone. She listened but heard only rushing water.

  He had intentionally distracted her! She clenched her fist, and water dripped from the washcloth.

  She took a deep breath, admitting to herself that she had done everything she could. His future was in his own hands. She had shown him what would happen if he did nothing, and what would happen if he cleaned himself up. She had been persistent—annoyingly persistent.

  What else was there to do?

  Those were the same thoughts she had when she tried to persuade her fiancé not to go to work that day. She had thought she’d done everything in her power, but she hadn’t. With this angel, she hadn’t either.

  She could search for him. Spend all day here until she could no longer walk. Scanning the path, a moving branch caught her eye. Was he hiding?

  She tightened the water bottle’s cap and took off on the trail toward the parking lot. Arriving where the branch had moved, she scanned the landscape with her flashlight, only to see a squirrel hopping in the tree.

  She continued down the trail.

  Ahead of her, the trail split. One path led to the parking lot, and the other was more rugged, hugging the river with stairs made of boulders. The ping of a stone tumbling against a rock, then a splash, made Jocelyn spin around and swipe her flashlight over the path.

  There, on a ledge above the river, was that man…that angel.

  4

  Jocelyn sighed and gathered the fight left in her. “You took off on me!”

  “I told you I didn’t want your help!” The angel stood and began to climb the boulders, putting more distance between them.

  She tucked the water bottle in the side pocket of her backpack and climbed the rock outcropping. Another wolf howl filled the air, causing her heart to pound and her arms to hug the rocks as her foot slipped against the wet surface. She stepped on one rock, then another, ensuring sturdiness in her footing. Ahead, the angel climbed farther down the river. Why was he so stubborn?

  After both her and the angel maneuvered farther down the path, the angel ran out of rocks to climb, as the path dead-ended. She was almost there. A few more boulders, and she could reach him. A throbbing pressure filled her head.

  “No, no, no!” She flung one hand to her temple as she eased down on the ledge, but the ledge was not wide enough. Her body tensed and when she involuntarily stretched out, she toppled into the icy, rushing river below.

  Her vision was like nothing she ever had before. She didn’t just see what was going on, she experienced every detail with all five senses, like she was there. This was the first vision she was physically in rather than just observing. She was seeing her future for the first time.

  Jocelyn stirred a pot of red sauce in a familiar kitchen—the angel’s home from her earlier vision, only different. Paintings of parakeets decorated the walls, her favorite animal, and her old, lime green toaster rested upon the angel’s countertop. She set a hot pad in the center of four plates on the kitchen table—a much larger table than in her other vision with the angel.

  “Dinner’s ready!” she announced.

  Two dark-haired little girls, about six years old, came into the room, Their hair perfectly straight, like her own. The stubborn, fallen angel followed with small creases around his eyes and distinguished grays at his temple. His lips curled in a smile that warmed her and made her forget his one-mindedness. She felt unmistakable love, a love she hadn’t experienced since her fiancé died. At that moment, she knew the angel’s name—Blaze. She knew everything about him and knew he knew everything about her. She loved that feeling.

  “Spaghetti!” One of the girls yelled.

  The other hugged her leg. “Thanks Mom!”

  Blaze came up beside her, putting an arm around her back as she set the pot on the table. He pressed his body to hers and whispered into her ear, “Thank you.” He brushed his lips against hers. His warm, soft kiss sent a shiver down her spine.

  Her eyes jolted open when her vision ended. Her lungs burned and her body twisted in misery. Water rushed over her head and cold numbed her limbs. She flailed her arms against the hard stones while she tried to push to the surface for a breath. She scraped her elbows and knees, fighting for her life.

  Once she broke the surface, a wave crashed over her head again. She kicked off the bottom of the river, but now she was so dizzy, she struggled to know which way was up. Attempting to calm herself, she rose to the surface and tried to cough the water in her lungs, but they stung and she couldn’t move air.

  Another wave crashed over her head and her body hit a rock, deflating her lungs. She attempted to grab something, but nothing was within reach.

  When her knee slammed another rock, she twisted again, grasping at any hard, unforgiving rocks along the shore…

  But her arms caught something soft. A hand wrapped around her upper arm and pulled her against something warm. She blinked the water from her eyes to see Blaze’s beautiful face before a coughing spell hit her, bringing tears to her eyes.

  She focused on clearing the water from her lungs, allowing Blaze to take care of her. He cradled her in his arms before lifting her over his shoulder, struggling to get out of the rushing water. She pried her eyes open to see the clean wounds upon his back. Two jagged slits, free from dirt and debris.

  How long had he searched the river for her?

  He climbed the rocks, then laid her upon a large stone. She twisted, coughing and spitting fluid from her lungs. Blaze glided his hand up and down her back, and when she couldn’t cough anymore, she laid back on the rocks, remembering the love she felt in her vision. Longing for it.

  The man responsible for that love sat beside her, staring out over the water. His back was cleaner than it had been, and he might survive. Could she now leave this forest? Was her duty done?

  She didn’t want to leave him. She wouldn’t leave him. The emotions in that vision made her love him. She knew him inside and out. Their lives intertwined.

  “Thank you,” she croaked.

  He nodded toward the river. “I had no choice. You were drowning.”

  She sat up. “There’s always a choice.”

  They stared at the hypnotic rushing water while the sun rose and her lungs returned to normal.

  Eventually, Blaze stood and helped her onto the main path.

  “The parking lot is that way.” He pointed down the trail.

  When she nodded, he took a step in the opposite direction.

  Jocelyn followed him. “Where are you going?”

  “It’s none of your business.”

  The words broke her heart. This couldn’t be the end of the road. She had seen his future…their future together, and it was beautiful, but he hadn’t seen it. He hadn’t fallen in love with her like she had with him.

  She took his hand, turned him around, and pulled him closer as her heart pounded. “I have one more thing to show you.” He pulled away, but she gripped his hand tighter, not letting go. “A future where you aren’t alone. Where you are loved.”

  His eyes widened, and she placed her free hand against the stubble on his cheek. He leaned into her hand, and she closed her eyes, sending him images and feelings from her vision—of their children, the sweetness of their kiss, and the love they shared.

  Blaze’s warm breath fell across the top of her head. She leaned into his chest, feeling his heartbeat against her cheek. She felt his love, and the promise of a beautiful future made her relax into him.

  When she opened her eyes and stared into his dark blue eyes, she realized he felt the same way. Lifting onto her tippy toes, she placed a kiss upon his lips.

  “Is it that easy?” he said after she pulled away.

  “It can be, if you don’t fight it.”

  He wrapped an arm around her. “I think I’m tired of fighting.”

  She traced a hand down his arm and gripped his hand. “Then follow me. I lost my glasses and could use someone to drive me
home.” She winked at him.

  With a nod and a heart-warming smile, he let her lead him out of the forest and to their new life, together.

  The End

  One Possible Future is one of many stories about the Angels of Sojourn.

  Meet all the couples and discover the full-length novels by visiting here: http://www.joynellschultz.com/angels

  For the first full-length novel in this series, check out Blood & Holy Water (Angels of Sojourn, Book One) Link: http://mybook.to/bloodholywater

  * * *

  About the Author

  Joynell Schultz loves interesting things. From driving a bright lime green SUV, having an awesome Great Dane as a pet, to an ever-changing list of hobbies. She’s a pharmacist by training but is currently managing the family business of a zoo. Talk about interesting! From drones aggravating the cougar to the elk in rut. From baby goats being born to adopting a sheep raised in a second-story apartment, there’s always something fun going on. And that was just in one week!

  In the little free time she has, she loves creating imaginary worlds to tell tales of human relationships. You can learn more by visiting her website (www.JoynellSchultz.com) or find her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/JoynellJSchultz)

  Make sure to grab some free content by subscribing to Joynell Schultz’s monthly newsletter here: www.JoynellSchultz.com/subscribe

  Lucifer’s Fall

  Prequel to the Celestial Downfall Series

  A.J. Flowers

  All Persons Fictitious Disclaimer:

  This book is a work of fiction. Any similarity between the characters and situations within its pages and places or persons, living or dead, is unintentional and co-incidental.

  * * *

  Lucifer’s Fall Copyright © 2017 A.J. Flowers