For the rest of the evening, the pair relaxed and watched television. When the comedy film ended, Angel flipped through the channels until he stumbled upon a horror film. He suggested that she pay close attention to how the monster built tension through scare tactics so she might incorporate them into her own strategies in the future. She took his advice to heart, asking questions and making suggestions.
What had started as a way to cheer her up had now turned into a kind of training session, and she was proving to be a quick learner. However, he found himself enjoying it for a different reason. He knew exactly when each jump scare would happen and paid close attention to her reactions, maybe taking too much pleasure in watching her yelp and cover her eyes. At one point, right after a particularly scary scene where she actually pulled the blankets over her head, he suggested that she should change into her demonic form. When she asked why, he admitted that seeing a demon scared by a horror movie struck him as hilarious.
In response, she stuck her tongue out at him and quipped, "Never gonna happen!"
During the commercials, they engaged in light conversation. He shared trivia about the films and actors, and Charlotte would ask questions about the commercials. Angel attempted to make her laugh with some jokes, but they mostly went over her head, so he quickly abandoned the attempts.
Then, at one point, feeling whimsical, he threw one of the extra pillows at her. Shocked, she stared at him in disbelief, but his playful grin gave her the cue, prompting her to throw it back and laugh with him. They repeated this a few times before the movie continued, capturing her attention. She was so engrossed that she paid no mind to the pillow that struck the back of her head.
After a while, he checked the clock on the nightstand and was surprised by how late it had gotten. Over the years, he had honed a keen sense of time and was usually aware of the hour, typically within a few minutes. Yet, the time spent tonight with her had seemed to stand still.
As the movie went to a commercial, Angel spoke up. "Hey. It's after 4 a.m.; we really should get some sleep."
"But!" Charlotte glanced back. "I'm not tir—"
The remainder of her thought faded into a lengthy yawn, and she lowered her gaze in resignation. "I mean, I'm really not that tir—"
The second yawn sealed the deal, and she rolled onto her back, crossed her arms, and sulked. "Fine. You win."
"Sorry. But remember, I promised you a day out tomorrow?"
The reminder was enough to convince her. With a flourish, she plopped herself under the blankets and dropped her head on the pillow, her eyes sparkling in excitement for the day ahead. Another tiny yawn caused her to blush as she softly whispered, "Goodnight, Angel."
"Goodnight, Charlotte. Pleasant dreams." He switched off the TV, turned off the lights, and tucked in as well.
The next day, after a welcome night of restful sleep, Angel took Charlotte out to explore the town. Their first stop was a thrift store where she could select clothing of her own. When it came time to pay, he realized he might need to call his sister for a small loan again. Scrounging for himself was one thing, but with Charlotte as his partner, some expenses would inevitably double.
For the first time, he regretted turning down the military's offer for an honorable discharge. Although it was unusual, they wanted to give him a sizable nest egg because of his circumstances. He refused, seeing the 'reward' as an insult. Still, he encouraged his sister to accept the same offer so she could start her business and fulfill her long-held dreams. Since many of his assignments included rewards, he gladly accepted them to keep his income steady and continue his work.
After collecting her purchases and stepping outside, he checked his phone for restaurants with larger menus so they'd have a variety of vegetarian options to choose from. Finding one nearby, he took her there, and when they entered, he warned her, "Keep in mind that many people do eat meat. Try not to react, okay?"
"I know." She nodded curtly, observing some of the plates on nearby tables as the hostess guided them to their own spot. Once they were seated, she added in a snarky tone, "Some are just destined for hell, I guess."
This earned a sharp look from their hostess before she departed.
He noticed the levity in her reply but sensed it affected her more than she let on. She truly cherished all aspects of life. To distract her, he helped her understand the menu and all the options she would likely enjoy, adding that he would also have whatever she chose. She smiled and selected a couple of different dishes for them to share.
Over the next hour, they ate and chatted about the shops and sights they had seen. Charlotte's eyes widened when their server brought out a slice of "Death by Chocolate" cake he had secretly ordered while she was in the restroom. He genuinely enjoyed her enthusiasm as she dug in, silently hoping she would never become jaded and lose her zest for life, just as he had.
The day drifted by as they continued to explore the local town's sights and sounds. When the sun began to set over the horizon, they returned to the hotel.
Upon entering, she paused by the edge of her bed. "Shit!"
Placing several bags on the table, he looked up with concern. "What's wrong?"
She shook her head, sank onto the mattress, and appeared remorseful. "I forgot to tell you something."
"Oh?" He raised an eyebrow as he came to sit on the other bed opposite her.
She explained, "When I found the boy, I jumped into the water but couldn't reach him. He was too far away. I saw a large broken branch lodged in the tree and wished I had it to help me. Next thing I knew, it was in my hand."
He listened, nodding calmly at her revelation. "You summoned it to you?" he asked.
"I believe so. Yes. I mean, I didn't check to see if it had moved or if I duplicated it, but I think I used magic."
He scratched his face, contemplating the admission, while his eyes drifted to the dresser and the TV. "Do you think you could do it again?" he asked, pointing to the television set. "Try with the remote."
Shifting on the bed to focus on the device, she extended her hand, and they both gazed in astonishment as it disappeared from view, only to reemerge in her grasp.
She whooped softly, holding it up for him to see. "I did it!"
Nodding, he began calculating how this could be useful. "May I ask for one more demonstration?"
"Of course," she smiled gleefully, now eager to play with her new power.
"You know the brown bag in the van where I keep returnables?"
Without answering him, she closed her eyes and concentrated. The bag in question materialized between them, tilting over and spilling cans and bottles onto the floor.
"Oops!" she squeaked.
Before she could move, he had already dropped to his knees and begun scooping them up. "I got it," he whistled in awe, "You are amazing."
Her face reddened, and shuffling her feet shyly, she mused, "I really wonder what else I can do."
"I'm sure we'll find out in time. But this trick of yours will come in handy. It would be nice to carry less around on a mission if we could summon whatever we needed."
"If I'd remembered earlier, we could have been walking around downtown hands-free almost all day," she chuckled.
"What?" He winked at her. "And let these muscles go to waste?" Demonstrating, he flexed a bicep, making her fall back laughing.
Though impressed with her new gift, he was worried. What else might she discover she could do? How powerful might she become? Could she lose control if her abilities grew beyond her means? It was another concern he had to consider having her as his ally, but for now, he wasn't going to share his fears. He'd balance the risks with the rewards as long as they could save lives.
For her part, she felt only anticipation about her growing abilities and how she could use them to help others.
Changing the subject, he suggested they take turns showering, then they could settle in for some more films before bed.
"Okay," she nodded as she stood up. Pausing, she looked at him. "Do you want to go first? I might use up the hot water if I do."
"Sure," he agreed. Squeezing her shoulder, he walked past her and slipped into the bathroom. He did not see her blush. She already knew she'd be taking some extra time for herself.
Days turned into weeks, which in turn became months. The chill of early spring gave way to warmer days, which meant Charlotte had more wardrobe options to buy. She loved selecting lighter choices, such as shorts and tops with logos printed on them, and on one occasion, she shyly asked him if she could go into a Victoria's Secret store by herself. Handing her some money, he told her he'd be across the way at another shop and gave her time to browse and select something for herself.
Despite some awkward moments, they shared the motel accommodations without incident or too much temptation, as they remained focused on the cases Cassie assigned. Most of these involved finding missing children reported within the first twenty-four hours, and she easily located many of them using her senses. Typically, they turned out to be runaways or troublemakers, but on three occasions, she utilized her demonic form to frighten and aid Angel in apprehending the true predators.
Each time, along with days free of trouble, she practiced her long-range senses, strengthening them like any muscle to improve their range. She also began to manifest her physical features independently of one another. She knew she could, having done so in the river.
She also enjoyed sharpening her teeth and emitting demonic growls at him if he irritated her. She once did this when she caught him sneaking a hot dog at a baseball game they attended. It made her laugh to see his panicked expression, worried others might notice, but she had learned to be subtle about when and where to use her abilities in public.
It still annoyed her that she had to turn invisible before reaching a scene or remain that way until they cleared out. Sometimes, it took more self-control to keep those irritations at bay, but she managed this by constantly reminding herself of the importance of staying safe.
Yet, during dinner at their hotel one night, Angel noticed her picking at her salad, a deep frown on her face. Setting his fork down, he leaned back in his chair and addressed it. "Something's bothering you."
Sighing, she nodded. "Angel? I love what we're doing, helping the children and all. It's just getting on my nerves having to hide all the time."
This had been a delicate subject on several occasions. He always answered with the same response. "You know why, though."
Dropping her fork in her salad, she slapped her palm on the table in frustration. "Yes, I do. Every time I bring it up, you say the same thing, making me say it for myself." The irritation in her voice was tinged with a slight growl. Quickly, she subdued it and lamented, "It doesn't make it hurt any less, Angel."
He remained silent, gazing at her gently. When she looked up at him, he clicked his tongue. "I wouldn't ask you to do this if there were any other way. You know that, right?"
She let out a long, tired sigh and picked up her fork, stabbing at a piece of tomato. "Yeah, I know."
It had been on his mind for a long time, and with her voicing her discomfort, he decided now was the time to speak up: "I wanted to discuss something with you. You have done so much to help me, yet you struggle with your feelings about staying hidden. You have saved many lives, but I need to know: Am I asking too much of you?"
"No!" she shook her head. "I wanted this, remember? Until my memories return, being with you is my sole purpose, Angel. Even if they return, I don't want to stop being your partner." The tone of her voice revealed feelings she hadn't meant to share.
If he sensed it, he didn't let on. Instead, he looked away, his face betraying his concern. "I believe you. It's just—"
Dropping the fork into the salad again, Charlotte leaned forward and pressed her palm against his cheek, drawing his attention to her. "No matter who I used to be, what matters now is who I've become. Each life we save reminds me that I am more than the demon that resides within me. You rescued me, but you've also guided, trained, cared for me, and given me a purpose. I truly believe that saving souls is my destiny. I am incredibly grateful to you, so please," her eyes sparkled, "Never forget that you can ask anything of me." In that moment, her frustrations melted away. "Including staying hidden."
Smiling reassuringly, he cupped his hand over hers. "Okay. You've convinced me."
"Good!" Her cheeks flushed at the prolonged contact between them. She didn't want to remove her hand from his face, but when he let go, she suddenly felt self-conscious and dropped her hand on the table. The two gazed at each other in silence.
Clearing his throat, he began clearing the table. "We have a long drive tomorrow. We should probably turn in early."
Grateful for the distraction, she assisted him in the cleanup. "Are you going to shower?"
"We didn't do much today," he declined. "I'm just going to bed. Take your time if you want."
With a slight smile, she accepted the opportunity and disappeared behind the bathroom door. She had some feelings to work out.
Removing his boots and socks, Angel slipped into bed and folded his arms behind his head. Thankfully, their conversation had eased his worries about how he was using her. They were still there, and would always be, because of how much he respected her, but at least they now understood each other more clearly. He wanted her to feel important, a genuine part of their team, and not just a tool for his purposes. She'd been firm tonight that she was in this for the long haul as well.
He also realized something else as he held her hand against his cheek. It stirred emotions he had worked hard to keep locked away, but her touch broke down those barriers. Even though he knew she was a demon, he saw only a beautiful woman, and he found it harder and harder to hide his growing affection for her.
With a heavy sigh, he rolled over on his side and tried to ignore the rising ache he was feeling. Perhaps, when Charlotte was done in the bathroom, he'd go and take a shower anyway.
A cold one.