Page 2 of Angelic Acts
Looking around, I memorize every detail of the room. With my eidetic memory, not one detail evades me. However, there aren’t many details. No personalized décor or framed family pictures. In fact, the whole room seems bare. Almost as though this were a showroom.
I finally turn towards the mysterious light, hellbent on turning it off, only to shriek in horror. I jump backwards, hitting my back against the almost empty bookshelf. A framed picture knocks over, adding to the racket. I quickly pick it up but almost drop the photo at the sight of the snake on it. But the beaming brunette it’s wrapped around makes the picture breathtaking.
Clutching the picture in my hands, I freeze. There’s no way the amount of noise I just made won’t wake her. This is my nightmare. Being caught sneaking into the most beautiful angel’s home only to be greeted by a wall from hell full of enclosures and tanks filled with snakes, lizards, turtles, frogs, and all sorts of scaly creatures.
The light is to warm these creatures, not from a lamp or candle.
When nothing happens, not a single peep is heard from her end of the house, I let out a relieved breath. She must be a deep sleeper. I place the frame back on her shelf, but not before snapping a photo. Maybe I can learn how to edit a picture to remove the snake. But as soon as I think it, I feel a pang of guilt. Clearly these repulsive creatures give her great joy. I can’t take that from her, not even for my own comfort.
Keeping a large gap between me and the wall of horror, I inspect the house. The kitchen is small and barely stocked. There’s almost as much animal food inside as there is people food.
Her fridge has a half-drunk gallon of milk, some eggs, cheese, and a pie. Interesting choices. And her freezer contains several microwave-ready dinners as well as two drawers full of wrapped foods. Curiously, I open one of them and immediately drop it. I run to the sink and gag a few times. When nothing comes up, I take a deep breath and drink some water straight from the faucet. It helps with the cold sweats.
Once I’ve composed myself, I rewrap thefrozen mouseand place it back in its drawer. Enough snooping in there for me. Instead, I walk down the hallway. There are two rooms and a half-bath. I relieve myself in there, then inspect it. It’s a normal bathroom. Doesn’t tell me anything about my angel.
The guest bedroom is empty. Literally empty. There’s no bed or furniture. Nothing at all. It’s odd, but I let it go.
The only room that remains unseen is her bedroom. Where she’s currently sleeping. Can I risk going in there? I shouldn’t. But how can I not?
I understand Psyche’s need to look upon Eros’s face despite knowing the consequence. I can’t stop myself from sneaking inside, just to get a peek at the enchanting angel.
The brown locks are braided into two long ropes. My fingers twitch with the need to pick one up. It’s only three steps for me to be at her side, but I refrain. I only allow myself the pleasure to gaze upon this beauty. Touching is not allowed. Not until she permits it.
She’s still in her sleep, unmoving except her deep breaths. If only she would open her eyes so I can see what color they are. But that’s a ridiculous wish, because if she did, while I’d see something magnificent, she’d see a stranger looming over her.
She’d be scared. Terrified. That thought sours my mood enough to make me turn, close her door, and sit on her couch.
How could I get so caught up in one woman’s beauty? In her act of mercy towards a lizard of all things. How could I let myself follow her home? It isn’t right.
Maybe I’m more like Matthias than I thought.
But no. Instead of kidnapping my angel, I just made sure she got home safely. And my intent upon entering was to ensure her safety from a candle fire. I had pure intentions.
But I can’t let this continue.
I sneak back out, push my motorcycle a few houses down before turning it on, then drive the hour back to my penthouse in the city.
The entire time, her face is tattooed on my mind.
If only we could have had a chance, beautiful angel. But my world isn’t one I can have a woman in. I can’t keep you safe. Margot was taken by the Bratva only weeks ago. I could never risk them getting their hands on you.
Goodbye, my angel.
…
And yet, every afternoon is spent outside her home, watching her, looking over her. I can’t seem to stop myself from going to her. Her angel’s call can’t be ignored, no matter how hard I try.
By the fifth day, I realize this is a problem. I don’t even know this woman, and I’ve sacrificed my morals over her. So, I remedy that.
Countless hours of research on my brunette mystery leaves me with more questions than answers.
Lizzy Lewis seems like a normal girl from a normal family. She’s twenty to my twenty-six. Another reason we can’t be together. She’s too young. Six years isn’t a big difference when the couple is older like Matthias and Margot, where Margot’s already my age, but for a twenty-year-old, it’s just not right.
My Lizzy works at the zoo as an assistant to the zookeepers. She’s in the reptile exhibits. No surprise there. She started about three months ago. Which is when she bought this house in cash. And when she bought her car… in cash.
And when she started existing.
Lizzy, such a fitting name for my lizard-loving angel. If only it were her real name. Lizzy Lewis, it seems, only became a person three months ago.
