Pure Soul Book 2
12

12. Cassiel

Okay we just arrived at the house we are renting and guess what. Our house is by the ocean as well! Super excited to see it. So, we’re near a boardwalk called Broadway at the Beach, though I don’t have the exact address at this moment. Wouldn’t it be wild if we were neighbors once again. Moonlight above, I hope we are! I hope we are; I think to myself as I stare at the mobile device anticipating Aza’s response. I’m dying to see him again. I can’t believe it’s been less than 24 hours since we were together, it feels like a lifetime ago. A dreamy look takes hold of me as I look out my current bedroom window. My eyes go wide, there on the front porch of the house right next door to us is Aza sitting on a brick wall smoking a cigarette. My heart jumps into my throat at having spotted him. Is this fate? I hadn’t given it much thought until the two words flashed in my mind: TRUE MATE. Is it possible? Can an angel and a human be destined for one another? It must be possible because all the emotions and feelings I’ve been experiencing since having met him is the textbook definition of True Mate. My pulse quickens at the idea. Aza had said “essentially” that he was going through the same experience as me.

Picking my phone back up from the stand I had laid it upon next to my new bed, I send him another message: Oh. My. Gosh! Look over at the window across from you. I hadn’t realized he had gone in while I was lost in thought, so I sent a follow up text: I mean look out your right window! Seconds later I see the curtain to the window I’m looking at get moved aside and I see his gorgeous face looking out, looking directly at me. I wave excitedly to him and then feel my phone buzz in my hand. No way! Seriously? What are the odds of us being neighbors again. I think fate has something up her sleeve... Do you care to join me down at the beach in about twenty minutes? I nod my head vigorously yes and then shoot him a short response of, totally. Sounds like a plan, I’ll see you in a little bit. I watch him as he receives my message and then he looks at me and nods his head, mouthing the word, okay.

Giddy joy courses through me and I tromp down the stairs and walk into the living room where it appears as though there is a meeting going on that I hadn’t been invited to. Twisting my lips in confusion I ask, “uh hey, what’s going on? Did I forget about a meeting or something?” I stare in disbelief that they’re sitting here without me.

“Ah, Cassiel, thank you for joining us. It was sort of an impromptu meeting as Ananiel has asked that we come and chat with her about a situation she replaces somewhat disturbing. She has brought to our attention that a gentleman you have encountered while in our last location has miraculously found himself as our neighbor here. So, until further notice you are banned from having any contact with him. And, if you would be so kind as to provide us with his name, we will check him out. If nothing suspicious comes of it, then you may resume contact.” I stare at Zadkiel in shock. I’ve never been banned from hanging out with anyone before. Shifting my eyes until they land upon Ana’s, I give her a vicious glare.

“Y-y, yes sir,” I stutter. “Is that all, sir? I was hoping to go to the beach for just a little bit as I’ve never seen it before. I won’t stay out too long.” My bottom lip quivers and I bite it to stop it from doing so. My eyes have gone back to Zad as I wait for his answer.

“That is fine Cassiel. Just remember that we will be up before the sun in the morning so make sure you are returned at a decent hour. I nod my head okay and then quickly remove myself from the room and dash up the steps to my room, promptly shutting the door as I enter. Grabbing the phone, I send Aza a quick text telling him to meet me down on the beach, but far from sight of my house. He doesn’t’ ask questions, just responds with an okay. I decide then and there that I’m going to tell him why I’m here, omitting the more important details of course. I change into a one-piece swimsuit, a blue color that I’ve been told heightens the blue of my eyes. I pull a pair of shorts over the top of the suit and then a baggie oversized tee shirt. Finding some flippers, uh, wait, that’s not the right word... flip-flops! I slip my feet into them and then grab my phone and an oversized body towel before walking out the back door, my feet literally touching the sand of the beach. Next to heaven, the beach is the best place in the world. Taking a deep breath, I fill my lungs with the ocean air, simply wonderful.

About halfway down between the sand and the ocean water I receive a text from Aza telling me to go past some dunes and I will replace him there. I begin marching through the sand and as I get near the water, I replace the sand touched by the ocean is easier to walk on. Within a couple of minutes, I spot the dunes he was referring to and make my way over to them. He sees me just as I round the bend and runs towards me, lifting me off my feet twirling me around in a circle as he hugs me. Aza lets me slide down, but his arms are wrapped around me until my feet are steady upon the sand. “Hi,” I say giggling as I gaze into his golden eyes. His crinkle on either side as he smiles back at me, and I feel like I could get lost in them forever.

“I don’t mean to be nosey, but do you care to explain this secrete rendezvous of ours?” Aza is grinning like he doesn’t mind in the slightest that we are meeting this way and my grin grows wider.

“Okay, so I’ve got to tell you something important. I’m a soldier and the reason I’m here is because my team is on a recon mission in search of an item needed for our army. Do you remember the other girl that was with me at the café?” I look at him and he nods his head yes and I continue. “She recognized you when you were out on the front porch, and she told my commander. I was informed just before I texted you that I am not allowed to be in contact with you until they’ve done a background check on you.” The words rush out of my mouth. I can’t seem to lie to him, I can barely omit any of the information that he shouldn’t know about from him.

“Oh, um, that’s cool I guess,” Aza says as he runs what I’ve said through his mind. “I can promise you that I will not, cannot stay away from you... but if they need my name to look me up, it’s Azael Duncan.” I look at him quizzically because Azael sounds like an angel’s name but he’s quick to give a response to my questioning stare. “Yeah, I know the name’s weird, my parents are extremely religious, and they came across the name somewhere in the bible.” I smile to know his parents are religious, maybe me telling him at some point that I’m actually an angel in Archangel Michael’s army won’t be such a hard concept to accept.

“So, you’re a soldier, you seem very young to be a soldier... how long have you been one?” The look he gives me almost seems one of awe. Or maybe disbelief, I can’t quite tell.

“Um, let’s see. I’ve been a soldier for just over a year now. I love it! To be a part of this team specifically and doing search missions has been amazing.”

“I love how passionate you are about your job. It’s rare to see people who love the job they’re doing.” As he says this, he has taken hold of my hand and walked us away from the dunes and towards the water. We pick a place to sit, and he takes my towel laying it out for me to sit on. He then does the same with his towel. He pulls me into his side so that he can wrap an arm over my shoulders. We sit this way for a little while, but I can hear the ocean calling my name, urging me to go to it.

Standing up I ask, “do you mind if I go into the water? I’ve never been and I’m dying to feel the waves against my skin, breaking around my body.” As soon as I see him nod, I begin to strip out of my clothing until I’m standing in just my swimsuit grinning at him as he takes his eyes and drags them over my body. In the blink of an eye, he has removed his shirt and takes my hand, before we run into the warm water.

Once we tire of the ocean we go back to our towels and sit down, letting the evening air dry us. With our fingers linked together we decide to watch the sun set as it slowly plunges us into darkness. After the last of the light fades from sight, we stand picking up our stuff as we do so. “This was a perfect night, Aza. Thank you for asking me to join you.” I step into him so that he isn’t able to walk and as he looks into my eyes, he realizes why I have done so. Leaning down slightly he places his lips upon mine kissing me deeply. The kiss doesn’t last long as I know I need to get back to the house so that no one starts to question my whereabouts. We walk a portion of the way holding hands but as soon as I feel we can be seen I release his hand.

“Even if you’ve been told not to see me, we can replace a way to see each other plus, we’ve got our cell phones so we can always message or text if we replace ourselves missing one another,” Aza says just before we part ways. The thought of not being able to see him, to not be near him is suffocating so I happily agree with him, determined to make sure we can replace ways to be together!

Aza stays where I released his hand from mine to allow me to walk up to my house without anyone being suspicious of me having been with him. Quickly I climb the stairs of the back deck and peek through the window to see that no one is milling about on the first level, all rooms are dark. Sliding the door open I quietly walk inside and slide it shut. Going up the stairs I quickly go to my room and grab my “pajamas” and a towel so that I can hop into the shower. I know without a doubt that 4a.m. is going to come way too soon for my liking and so I’m sure it will be a quick shower. As soon as I’m dried off and, in my pajamas, I hop into the bed, hoping that sleep will replace me quickly.