Chapter 6

Chapter 6

The next day after meditating and thinking long about Lucifer and everything that has happened throughout history, Gabriel was starting to feel frustrated and anxious. Nothing made sense anymore. The world was a huge place. A place he only worked in. The ins and outs he was still learning. His body made demands of him he tried desperately to control. Being human was harder than he thought.

It was his cockiness that caused the frustrations. He was certain that he would find the cause of the demons possessing humans and stop them by sending Lucifer back where he belonged, but he didn’t have any luck. The only hopes he had for now was Jasmine and Xavier’s next case. Gabriel entertained himself in the meantime with technology. He was glued to the television on the couch with chips and a blanket.

Jasmine walked by, fresh out of the shower. Her hair was still damp as it cascaded down her shoulders before it curled up tightly dry. Their relationship had grown some enough to gain a small amount of trust, but Jasmine still kept to herself most of the time. Gabriel didn’t blame her though and gave her space that she needed. It was the only way for sure they would work together.

“You’re getting dressed mighty late…going out?” Gabriel asked, curiously as he looked at the time. It was already six in the afternoon on a weekend.

“Yes we are.” Jasmine replied, getting her some water out of the fridge.

“We?” Gabriel sat up from the couch. He was shirtless as always which Jasmine wanted to get used to, but she couldn’t stop her attraction to him. It was foreign enough having a man around in her apartment, but having an Angelic man walking around naked all the time was beyond her ability to comprehend. Gabriel would have to find Lucifer soon so he can go back and leave her to her sinful thoughts.

“Xavier sent me a picture of a missing woman at the same club Amelia was taken from, Chelsea Daniels. I thought it could help if we got out and maybe find the person in charge and find this girl at the same time.”

“Where are we headed?” Gabriel asked, as he stood ready to go.

Jasmine walked over grabbing his button down shirt gesturing for him to wear it as she jiggled it in the air. He reached and grabbed it staring into her eyes. Something was wrong. He could feel it. His hands brushed hers as they exchanged the shirt.

“What’s wrong, Jasmine?” he asked softly. She shook her head. Wanting to hide the feelings she started. Going back into danger rattled her more than she wanted to admit. She wanted to be fearless. Wanted to be focused, but she couldn’t. She wasn’t cut out for this. Gabriel caressed her cheek, very softly with a small smile on his face. “You have been very brave to have dealt with being haunted by demons and learning all of this in a short time. No one would blame you if you were afraid.”

“Well I’m not.” She replied, spitefully causing Gabriel’s smile to widen. He knew she was clearly lying, but backed off once she walked away to leave him to get dressed.

The club was beyond loud and chaotic. How humans did this was far beyond anything Gabriel could comprehend. The blurring lights in the place were bad enough, but he had his eyes fixated on Jasmine. She was definitely out of her comfort zone and stood out far more than Gabriel. The nervousness on her face caused Gabriel to worry for her as he grabbed the long bulging sleeve of her crop top.

“You really don’t do human interactions well, do you?”

Jasmine frowned as if he was reading her like a book, but she turned to several body guards stopping them from going any further. Jasmine held out her temporary badge from the police department. The men looked at her with squinted eyes and back to Gabriel as if unimpressed. Gabriel looked at them the same way.

“I’m Jasmine Peters, I’m here to consult about the kidnapping of Amelia France. A young girl who was kidnapped here a few weeks ago.”

“She was found. Has nothing to do with the club.” The bodyguard on the right said a bit defensively to Gabriel’s dismay.

“I just need to speak to the owner.” Jasmine replied, placing her badge away, trying to keep her calm and cool demeanor.

“She’s not in.” The other replied, arms folded as if they were going to attack Jasmine.

Gabriel pulled on her sleeve then, pulling her gently behind him as he took steps forward. Jasmine grabbed his arm already knowing his intention without having the ability to read his mind. She pulled him back away from the guards then to come up with a better plan.

“That man was lying.” Gabriel blurted, pointing over to the guard.

“I know, which is good.” Jasmine replied, causing Gabriel to look confused. His eyebrows rose to his forehead unable to process what she meant. “It means the owner is a she and she is here. I can find her and we question her.”

“Hmmm…” Gabriel looked around the club then, taking his eyes off Jasmine for a moment to turn back to see her gone. He started to become worried as he looked around the club for her, to see her walking off to a dark corner of the club. He took a step to follow her, but got bombarded by a group of women.

“Hey handsome want to dance?” A woman shimmied down his chest as Gabriel looked down to the woman a few inches smaller than him with a drink in her hand and the loud bass over the speaker made it harder for Gabriel to focus and watch Jasmine. She started to disappear in a crowd to Gabriel’s dismay.

Jasmine followed the thread of the woman in her head. The one in the VIP booth, with the red seduction dress. Her deeper thoughts were riddled with how well the club was going and how much fun she was having. Jasmine only had to look at her. The owner status was written all over her. A man and a woman was kissing her neck as she met Jasmine’s eyes with a wink.

“That one.” The owner pointed to Jasmine then. “Bring her up.”

A guard came and escorted Jasmine up the stairs. Her eyes never left the owner’s. It was if she was hypnotizing her, urging her to move forward to her. Whispers in her mind became pure seduction as she sat in front of the temptress.

“What a beauty.” The woman in the red dress, the temptress said, swirling her straw around her martini cup.

Jasmine held up her badge out from the side of her pouch that was safely secured around her shoulders, across her chest strapped on like a purse. “Are you the owner?” She already knew the answer, but wanted to keep up appearances.

“Depends…what do you want?” The woman uncrossed her legs to reveal her nakedness underneath before covering up. The man and woman that were licking on her neck now moved to her exposed leg. Jasmine tried her best to not give in to the seduction the woman was trying to cast on her.

“A pattern of missing girls were last scene here at your club, mind if I ask a couple of questions?” Jasmine looked around the club then. “Alone preferably.”

The woman laughed low before a soft moan escaped her lips. “No one gets me alone sweetness. Say whatever you need. I’m Raina. I’m at your disposal and you have my full cooperation.” She unfolded her legs, this time keeping them exposed afterwards and taking a sip of her drink. “As you can see, I have nothing to hide.”

Jasmine scoffed, her eyes avoiding the scene in front of her. On instinct she started to search for Gabriel as if she was in some kind of danger, but didn’t sense any. “Look at me.” The flow of power caused her to look up at Raina. The pure seduction in her mind hypnotized Jasmine to look her in the eyes.

“Has anyone been suspicious around here lately? Maybe prying on women with a certain background? Young, vulnerable girls?” Jasmine managed to say fighting the seduction with every ounce of her body and mind. She was becoming increasingly hot and felt the need to pull off her shirt. Her legs started to pounce uncontrollably. She needed to find Gabriel fast.

The women that were stuck to Gabriel like glue as he searched for Jasmine made him feel uneasy. There was something in the air, beyond the alcohol, drugs, and the sex, something else. A slight subtle power that any Angel would be able to feel. The club was definitely a place filled with sin. His human body was bound to become weak and give in to the sensations of earthly pleasures, but he kept his mind focused on finding Jasmine. He should have never let her leave his side.

The lights beamed in and out almost blurring Gabriel’s vision, but he stayed sharp and his keen sense was already on high alert. Somehow, he managed to get away from the women as he walked through the dance floor bumping into people as he walked like one of the guards, eyes lurking as every sense in his being came to life. He turned his head to see Jasmine sitting up top while she chatted with a woman in red. The Temptress. The same one that tried to tempt Jesus in the desert.

Gabriel rushed then, uncaring about the complaints he got from pushing people out of the way. Jasmine’s eyes were focused on the woman, a big mistake. She wasn’t the descendant of the Almighty. There was no way she could overcome the seduction of the woman, that meant Gabriel had to worry. He completely left the dance floor as he hit the bar from a random push from the crowd, then someone hit his chest. The hand was meant to stop him as he looked up to who dared touch him.

“You need to calm down sir before we put you out.” One of the guards from earlier threatened. Gabriel grabbed his hand from off of him and twisted it until it cracked.

“Get out of my way.” He whispered low and deadly as he pushed him to the bar causing a scene. Gabriel kept his eyes on Jasmine, but the women came back. They were now his obstacle, pulling his shirt and groping his body very inappropriately. Now he noticed these women were a means to distract him from getting to Jasmine. The Temptress was working her magic on them to keep him away from her.

He managed to get to the stairs to another set of guards before the others on the ground floor, now one with a broken hand and the other, were ready to throw him out. Gabriel growled low annoyed holding his hands up ready to attack them until the Temptress stood and turned to the madness.

“Let him in.”

Gabriel’s eyes met hers and she recognized him which caused her to smirk as she took a shot of her martini, finishing it. Jasmine stood then as she blinked trying to come back to her senses once Raina looked away from her. Gabriel touched Jasmine’s shoulders, giving her the much needed comfort.

“Are you alright?” He asked her, eyes still focused on the Temptress as she smiled wide and clapped.

“Of course she is. Sit please. We have much to talk about. Jasmine here was telling me about the missing women that were kidnapped from my club.” Raina moved, seduction itself as she stood towards Gabriel, she leaned in, Gabriel watching her every move as she kissed his cheeks. “Raina Tate the owner of Mix and Mingle club chain. Who are you handsome?”

Before she could touch him with her hands, Gabriel quickly grabbed her wrist. His eyes burning through her soul, seeing the truth no one else knew. She saw the truth in his as well. His touch told her everything she confirmed in her mind. “Angel.”

The thought made Jasmine stand up as well as she moved Gabriel away from her. Her hands rested on his arm as she pulled him back, wanting to leave, but the guards blocked their exit. Gabriel however never stopped looking at Raina.

“Please sit. Have a drink.” She offered.

Jasmine leaned up to whisper in Gabriel’s ear. “She knows.”

The corner of Gabriel’s mouth twitched then. “Good.” He walked right past Jasmine then as he sat on the couch where Jasmine was sitting, unafraid and unphased by her seductive stare. “I know you go by many names. Once you went by Temptress. The woman in the red dress that was used by Lucifer to test Jesus.”

Jasmine's eyes widened then as she turned back to the woman with another drink in her hand and a smirk on her face. Her heart started beating in fear and her mouth went dry. She was sitting right in front of her all this time. Then another question popped into her mind. How was she able to read her thoughts?

“You know Angel…I am shocked to see another one of you running around in human skin.” Raina took a sip of her drink while staring at Jasmine.

“Another?” Jasmine asked now paying more attention, sitting beside Gabriel. She looked at him for answers.

“There have been several Angels that questioned the Almighty’s authority and decided to leave for various reasons.” Gabriel replied to her, knowing she needed to know then spoke directly to Raina. “I don’t suppose they all came to you for help.”

Raina glanced at Jasmine still. “It is no wonder I recognize you. I know you can read my thoughts. It is true then. What you are? A hybrid?”

Jasmine winced and blinked. “She called me a hybrid.” She said to Gabriel and his eyes darted to Jasmine and then back to the smirking Raina.

“It’s not possible.” Gabriel murmured to himself.

“Oh it is. You want to know how you are able to read my thoughts?” Raina placed down her drink, eyes focused on Jasmine then, seeing the curiosity in her mind. Jasmine didn’t answer out loud only in her mind which caused Raina to smile. “It’s because I allow it. Don’t get me confused with these low class demons Malakith sends to do his bidding. I am the wife of the devil after all.”

Jasmine winced at the word, wife. “The devil is married?”

Gabriel sighed annoyed more so as he shook his head at Raina. “The missing women Temptress. Stop trying to distract us.” Raina laughed, her breast perfectly round in shape bounced as she did.

“Distract you? I only mean to inform you.” Raina replied innocently.

“You could save me the trouble of searching for Lucifer then. Just tell me where he is if you mean to inform us.” Gabriel smiled the same innocent smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

Something changed within Raina then. “You’re looking for Lucifer?”

Gabriel wasn’t buying it though. “You know where he is Temptress. Don’t cover for him.”

Raina shook her head. Her eyes pacing back and forth as she was in deep thought and she even sat up from her relaxed position. Jasmine could see the pure fear in her eyes then, worry covered her once perfect face. In her mind she cursed over and over, which Jasmine was completely confused by, as if Lucifer was an abusive lover that Raina was running away from.

“The last I checked Lucifer was guarding hell with his right hand Malakith. I left several centuries ago so I have no idea where he is.” Raina replied, completely honest. “These girls though were here at my club, but I have no idea what happened to them. I travel from here to the other locations every now and then so what goes on in one may have missed my attention.” Raina became comfortable again. “I can help you find them if you can help me?”

“We don’t work for you.” Jasmine retorted seriously.

Raina shrugged. “No sadly. I could use someone of your talents.”

“We can get a warrant you know and come back and shut this club down, demon or devil or whatever, you aren’t above the law.” Jasmine replied, boldly which caused Raina to stand again and squat in front of her. Just when she stretched her nail to touch Jasmine’s cheek Gabriel caught her wrist again twisting her body around so her back now was facing him, but this time it glowed brightly and started to burn her.

“You tell us what we need to know and I won’t hurt you.” He threatened.

Raina only laughed. “You speak about being above the law but look who's breaking the rules now.” She poked her ass out once he stood to obtain her on the couch. Gabriel quickly released her in disgust.

“Quit playing games and tell us what we need to know.” His patience was starting to run thin. Must’ve been the human skin taking over. “Where is Lucifer?”

Raina turned to him, struggling right before her guards came up rushing to stop Gabriel, but suddenly the atmosphere changed and Jasmine saw everything move as if everything around was in slow motion. The air became dry and thick with fog in her mind. A familiar feeling when something was happening that she needed to focus on and pay attention too. The sludge feeling in her mind made her feel ill from the texture of the grime in the back of someone else’s mind. Her head started to pound and everything else started to fade away and drown out in her mind. “No please! Stop!”

She stood up abruptly, hitting Gabriel. “It’s him.” She ran down the stairs skipping steps as she just jumped. Gabriel groaned and jumped off the couch to the ground floor landing perfectly on his feet. He followed Jasmine out to the parking lot where a man was getting into the car. His mind was filled with kidnapping the woman he just grabbed and it made Jasmine sick from the things he wanted to do to her before he delivered her. She leapt into action instead of waiting, kneeing the attacker in the dick while he coughed, leaning over to hold himself.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?”

Gabriel remembered seeing the man inside, one of the body guards. He grabbed the man by his collar and held him in place while Jasmine opened the car trunk, revealing the woman. Gabriel saw the woman and punched the bodyguard to sleep out pure unfamiliar rage. Jasmine grabbed her phone and dialed Xavier while Gabriel looked at the woman and helped her out of the car with Jasmine lending a helping hand even with the phone on her ear.

She continued to look at Gabriel in his eyes with wonder. The woman didn’t even turn her head once Jasmine started talking to her. “The police are on their way. Are you alright?”

Gabriel glanced at Jasmine then back to the woman. “Are you alright?” He repeated holding her elbow to help her stand.

“It’s you!” The woman reached around and hugged Gabriel close surprising him with the embrace. “I see the light in your eyes.”

Jasmine looked confused then. “Who do you think he is?”

The woman turned to her in a frown. “Can’t you see it? The light? It’s warm and glowing. I can see heaven.” She hugged Gabriel tightly. “I pray that someone like you would save me. I’m sorry. Please forgive me of my sins. I promise I will never come back and I will go to church more often.”

Gabriel pulled her away gently. “You can see heaven in me?” The woman nodded causing Gabriel to glance at Jasmine. “She has the sight like you Jasmine. She can see me for what I really am.”

“Chelsea Daniels must’ve had the gift as well.” Jasmine said, realizing what the kidnappers were doing. She walked over to the sleeping bodyguard. Her eyes scanned his body for any kind of clues. Being with Xavier for this long she did pick up on some detective skills. A tattoo on his neck down his shoulder seemed familiar, but she only took a picture of it right before the police drove up.

Xavier ran off to look at the scene. “He was taking another woman? I was just questioning Chelsea’s parents. Any signs of her?”

Jasmine shook her head as she pointed to the bodyguard. “He can help you find her though.” Jasmine pulled out her phone then. “Did Rolio have a tattoo like this?” She showed him the picture. Xavier looked closely.

“I mean maybe. The man was covered in them. Why is this one important?”

“It must mean something.”

Xavier noticed Gabriel and the woman walked over as the other officers began to search the scene and inside the club. “Xavier. Nice to see you again.” Gabriel greeted. Xavier only nodded. “This is Bri Conners.” The woman on his shoulder only shied away more into his arms. “He is a detective and is here to help you. Go with him.” The woman followed Gabriel’s command and walked to Xavier.

“Thank you both for finding me.” She said, before Xavier took her to the ambulance.

Jasmine turned to Gabriel confused. “She knows what you are which means there are more like me out here I never knew about.”

“I wouldn’t say like you, but there are people out there that can see and sense Angels. Like babies see us when no one else can. The gift goes away over time for most adults, but for some it stays with them. The bodyguard must be gifted as well. How else could he have known she could see…” Gabriel sighed as he remembered Raina.

“Maybe that’s how they found out about Amelia. These girls they are picking aren’t random. They have some kind of spiritual gifts or ties to the demons that’s possessing humans. I will go tell Xavier and we can continue our search at the house.”