Waiting

 I was human, plain, and boring, but now, I’m not and haven’t been for 20 years. You wouldn’t classify me as an Angel, Devil, or Other. I was something closer to a Reincarnate, but not exactly. I can’t die permanently since I did once, and the Almighty God himself put me back on Earth with a lovely supply of new souls to use every time I’m killed. That way, I can keep serving him for eternity, which was explained once by Michael in a way he thought was helpful.

“Let’s say you gain weight, so you have to replace your clothing because it doesn’t fit anymore. Same with a soul, except you die rather than gain weight, and the soul must be replaced,”  he said, if I remember right.

I kind of understood, but the mechanics of it were too much for me to wrap my mind around. It was similar to reincarnation, except it was immediate, and I was still fully aware of my surroundings. I could only imagine if hundreds of us died and respawned immediately, poor Death’s head would be spinning!

Michael's melodic voice interrupted my thoughts.

“My oh my. Here comes the wolf of the hour, Ayda. Think you can handle that big boy?” I heard him say, bringing my attention to where he was looking.

It was Cash, coming towards the coffee shop. His large frame and chocolate-colored hair picked up the last rays of sunshine holding on before night took over.

I looked back at Michael and caught myself whispering, “You want me to protect that? That huge thing! Is this a joke Michael?”

“Why? You can’t handle that big puppy?” He just stared at me for a moment and then snickered.

“For the Almighty’s sake Michael, why could that thing need protection? It could eat me for dinner!”

Michael’s thin frame shook from laughter, causing the coffee shop dwellers to pause their coffee sipping, smoking, and peek from the tops of phones and computers. His voice was one of an Angel, that’s for sure. I am being punished, that’s all I could think of at that moment, and the light metal chime on the door rang through the shop.

My skin was seriously ready to take a hike. I wanted to crawl under the table and hug my sneakers. The wolf didn’t hide his aura. It was almost imposing to me. I was sensitive to an Other’s aura, soul, power, you name it, and my skin would tingle. I didn’t have much of an aura. I mainly appeared human. The soul inside me gave off a lullaby-sounding hum if any Other were to check.

I casually glanced over my shoulder to peek at him. From the side, standing at the counter that was below waist high for him, you could see the tractor frame shoulders. He was dressed casually, so that came as a surprise. Most others tend to dress to the nines when even visiting a pharmacy.

I quickly wondered if his lack of joining a pack had something to do with it. Without a pack or a place to belong, some Others tend to swim and look like the normal dredges of human society. Unfortunately, a financial constitution doesn’t extend to those who don’t cater within the walls.

“Approach him cautiously, Ayda. Wolves tend to be jumpy. They can be very protective and full of themselves simultaneously, dear, so you may have to let your personality take a back seat on this one.” I blew a childish raspberry at him. I guess Michael knows me better than I thought.

I could hear the wolf give his order to Beth. She just smiled affectionately at him and nodded. I would have expected straight black that burns going down with bitter results for his coffee choice, but I was wrong. Instead, he chose the same fancy water Michael was drinking and a slice of cherry pie. It made me glance back in question at Michael, pulling a squeak from the pleather, and he just raised his eyebrows with a shrug.

I dug some bills out of my jeans and tossed them toward Michael. I always come prepared with a few ones to cover the coffee. Michael had always preferred cold hard cash to payment apps on the phone.

“Here, for the coffee.”

Michael smiled, gently took the dollar bills, and uncrumpled them with the type of grace only the hands of an Angel could do. Rule of thumb, never owe for even a coffee, even to an Angel.

“Next time, just call me. These little ‘shop on the corner’ meetings are starting to rack up,” I said, acting like it hurt my pocket, but it didn’t.

“Would you answer Ayda? What if it wasn’t about work, but something, much more fun?” 

He cracked a sly grin as his buttery soft inquiry leaked through my defenses and started to caress my inner curiosity. I grimaced as I kicked the thought. 

I wasn’t Michael’s type of preference for a being. He tended to like ordinary humans, male or female, safer, so he says. 

 Shaking my head at Michael’s amusing question, I heard Beth tell Cash his order was ready. A moment later, the bell on the door jingled as he went out. I threw a wave at Michael and headed out to do my job.

Gently rushing out after him, cool October air hit me, so my blood started to dance at the feel of it. I started a good pace at a distance from the wolf, keeping to the growing evening shadows the best I could from across the street. Random old-fashioned street lights started to flicker. The smell of food filled the air making my stomach growl. The wind was silently blowing from my back. I forced my eyes upwards for small favors. It must have been later than I thought because traffic from the street had almost stopped except for the occasional bump of a radio blasting as a car drove by.

I pulled my hood up to cover my hair, it was grabbing the wind, so I knew it was best to hide the orange tendrils. Of course, my hair can’t stay one solid color coming back from death, but bright orange was definitely one of my best looks this time.

My complexion varied as well. I suppose it is what it is, but it sucks having a consistent color theme for my wardrobe. That’s why black is best. When working, I tend to stick to tank tops under zipped-up hoodies during the chilly season.

Leather pants are just practical for movement and dragged along the pavement type burns. I always preferred boots, but I was sporting sneakers this time to help my short legs keep up with the wolf’s pace. 

Trying to hang back but keep the wolf in my sight, I realized he was aware, too aware, of his surroundings. At one point, he started to slow his pace. He must have realized he was being followed because I noticed the slight turn of his head showing his profile over his shoulder. Seeing this, I ducked on the step to a little shop that shared the sidewalk.

Peering around a window that displayed years of dust and forgotten collections made me toss a sad thought around my brain, people get older, and so do our memories encased in those items. I could see through the glass display that he stopped to turn directly into a 6-story apartment building.

The apartments were pretty new, built in the last seven years. Its brick front faced the street, sitting next to a Chicken and beer joint where I was a regular. I could smell the crispy fried goodness hitting my nose. Later, I whispered out loud.

The bikes chained to the racks on the outside didn’t surprise me. It isn’t an uppity area, but it was reasonably safe. The zigzagged parking lot across the street held several nice cars and a security booth. I didn’t see anyone there, but the property didn’t need security if Cash stayed here.

The doors were spotless and free of random stickers. They had a lock installed on them, but I didn’t hear the jingle of keys when he entered, so I prayed it was unlocked.

Climbing the steps slowly, looking through the glass, I pulled the door open.

He wasn’t in there, so I assumed he took the elevator straight ahead at the end of the newly painted off-white foyer or maybe the door with a sign stating stairs and exit to my right.

I noticed the metal mailbox slots with advertisement fliers peeking out on my left and slid over to it. Such a big building for just having five apartments, I mused.

The mailbox labels were stamped with the apartment number, the first letter of the person’s name, and then the last name. Being only five names, I found two that started with a C. I didn’t know if Cash’s last name was Cornell, but I went with my gut and chose apartment number 101.

I mused if he could be any relation to Cornell Plaza, but living here, I doubted it. Not that this place wasn’t pleasant, but it didn’t scream wealth and success.

I turned to look at the elevator, but something caught my peripheral vision.

The window on the metal door leading to the stairs was empty when I turned my eyes straight at it, but I could have sworn something was just there. I had the feeling of being watched. Taking my chances, I headed to the stairwell door. Curiosity always kills the cat. Luckily, this kitty had more than nine lives.