Chapter 16

Several minutes passed by as Andrew continued to hold Monica’s sleeping form gently in his arms. Rubbing her shoulders softly with his hands, the weary angel gave his friend’s head a loving kiss before turning his gaze to his right…and gasping out loud.

            His blood running cold at what he saw before his very eyes, Andrew drew in a shaky, fearful breath as he came face to face with Denise and Kathleen. The caseworker and the demon stood off to the side, each of their gazes turned on them. Denise’s fiery, blue eyes turned on him and his best friend and Kathleen’s smirk showing plainly on her demonic features, Andrew forced himself not to scream as he only tightened his arms around Monica’s form.

             Father…How—how could they POSSIBLY see me?? He silently cried up above. I thought—I thought I was—

             Suddenly, the realization came on top of him like a bucket of ice-cold water and Andrew felt his already tear-stained, green eyes well up with even more tears. The thought of what was occurring before him sent a cold shiver down the angel’s spine as he realized the truth:

              Not only was Monica in human form, but…now, so was he…

  *****

 “…I know he saw us,” Denise remarked quietly as she and Kathleen disappeared from the attic room and down the stairs to the main floor.

              “I just know it. I could tell by the way he looked at us…But, that’s part of my plan, Kath. It’s a big part of the plan. Those two are now stuck in human form, which makes our plan go even more smoothly…”

            “So…What IS your plan?” Kathleen demanded as she linked her arm through the caseworker’s as they came to the bottom of the staircase and onto the main floor of the large house.

             “You sound so confident, hon…”

             Her eyes flashing with an evil all their own, Denise allowed her mouth to turn upward into a small grin at her new friend as she folded her arms across her chest and leaning against the wall. Turning her eyes up to the high ceiling and staring at it for a minute, the young caseworker finally returned her gaze to the dark angel and smirked.

             “I have the most perfect plan, Kathleen,” she whispered dangerously,

 “You’re taught me well these past few days, you know, so I DO know a good plan when I see it…”

            Sighing loudly as Denise rattled on, Kathleen rolled her eyes upwards and interrupted the angel’s words.

             “Will you just tell me, for heaven’s sake, Denise?” she demanded, folding her own arms across her chest and shooting a challenging look the caseworker’s way,

             “If you want to do what you want to do, you better tell me so we can get ready for it, girl!”

            Not paying any attention to the demon’s snappish remarks, Denise smiled wickedly at her friend as she reached in the pocket of her blue jeans and pulled out a small object.  Keeping her hand rolled up into a small ball, the caseworker raised her blue eyes to Kathleen’s dark, brown ones before speaking her mind.  

             “The plan is very simple, Kathleen,” she remarked, keeping her voice low and mysterious,

 “All it will take is the perfect timing and teamwork…Are you ready for that??”

            “Denise…” Kathleen responded, exasperated,

“You’re talking to the master of revenge here. What’s in your hand? And it better be good…” she finished threateningly.

            Slowly opening her hand, the caseworker smiled as she allowed the dark angel to see with her own eyes the small object: A small, red lighter. The small object sat in the palm of the caseworker’s hand as each figure in the center of the living room stood staring at one another, the plan unraveling before their very eyes…

             *****

             Her hand swiftly clicking on the small lighter she held in her delicate hand, Denise smiled evilly as she watched the red and orange flame flicker before her very eyes.

             No words spoken between herself and Kathleen, who stood at her side at the bottom of the staircase, the caseworker shot one glance at her older friend before, with a tiny flick of her wrist, threw the small lighter to the ground…

            Right at the foot of the carpeted staircase in front of them…