Page 42 of Heavensent & Hellbent

I collected it, the lighter weighty in my hands, the metalsmooth, unscratched, reflecting my image back at me. “I don’t smoke, but…thanks?”

He scoffed. “It emits a light that can temporarily stun jinn. While jinn come from fire, angels come from light. It won’t kill a jinn, but it will stop them long enough for you to get away, if need be. You need a way to protect yourself if I’m not there. But use it carefully. Once you use it, it needs a little time to recharge before working again.”

Zain’s gift reminded me that I’d likely come face to face with another jinn. That this didn’t end with one of them being killed.

“You won’t need it,” he quickly said, like he was reading my thoughts. “I just want to know that in the unlikely event something did happen, you’d be able to defend yourself.”

“Noted.” I put it in the inside compartment of my Prada backpack. “What would happen if a human was exposed to it?”

“Nothing. It only affects jinn.”

That relieved me marginally. At least I wouldn’t accidentally hurt myself or others.

“I had one of those dreams last night,” Zain said more quietly.

“You did? What happened?”

“I was alone in a dark room, my wrists tied behind my back with something tough enough that I couldn’t break free from it. I kept asking about Rabiya. I felt my past selves worry deeply, and knew something had happened to her, even when I was being dragged out of the room with a sack over my head. I couldn’t see anything, and knew I was being led to my death,but all I could think was that I hoped she was okay. I felt closer to my past self’s thoughts this time.”

“I saw Rabiya being set up by cloaked jinn—and…” I started, and almost told him about Rabiya throwing fireballs at them, but instead I said, “They took her away.”

He turned on the engine but didn’t pull out of the spot.

“What now?” I asked.

“Do you remember Sebastian, one of my friends from the arcade? He invited a few people to chill out at the lake, if you’re down?”

“Chill? Don’t we have other things to do right now?”

“Why not have a little fun in between?” he said. “Plus, it’s his birthday, and I have a reputation for being a flake, so I kind of have to show my face. What do you say?” Zain grinned, and it softened something inside of me, calming my nerves.

And that’s why I said, “Okay. Why not?”

18

Zain sat beside me near the lake, while some of the others were in the water, splashing about. The sun beaming overhead warmed my face. Music sounded from portable speakers. Sabrina Carpenter rang out. My leg tapped in time with the beat. For just a moment, I could forget about everything—the sleep paralysis, jinn, angels, my mum not being here anymore—and focus instead on the sounds of water rippling and splashing, laughter in the distance.

Zain was right: We needed a break. Even if it was just for a few hours. We needed to pause.

When we first got to the lake, Sebastian greeted us. Water dripped from his tanned chest, like he had just been in the water. On his left side was a thin tattoo that almost looked like some kind of rune.

Next to him were two people—a guy named Marcus, who towered over us all and had clearly played on their old footballteam, and a girl called Autumn with a kind smile and a tight, shiny afro.

“He has arrived,” Sebastian practically bellowed, his face breaking into a broad grin.

“A first time for everything,” Zain replied.

Sebastian slapped a hand on Zain’s back, and they exchanged huge grins.

“Roxana,” he said, turning to me. “I’m sorry I was a dick before. I was just shocked to see Zain speaking to a girl.”

I didn’t quite know what to say to that, so I just said, “All good. Happy birthday.”

“It’s next week, but I appreciate it.”

“Sebastian’s birthday is always a monthlong affair,” Zain said. “Ever the narcissist.”

The others laughed, while Sebastian reached over to playfully punch Zain in the shoulder, but Zain caught his hand and said, “You need to be quicker than that.”