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My first instinct was to blind him with light.
But I couldn’t do that anymore.
I sidestepped him before I did something stupid, and with my head down, exited the alley onto a dimly lit street in one of the shadier neighborhoods of Houston.
I didn’t like being in a big city, but I didn’t have much choice. I needed money, and in a small town, it would have been hard to be a nobody.
I knew this wouldn’t last, though. Maybe another six months? A year? Not more than that. Then I would have to move again to stay out of sight, and continue pretending I was a regular human.
With a groan, I hiked my duffel bag onto my shoulder and walked to the bus stop. I rode the bus to a better side of town, where there was a great noodle place I had found by chance, and it was now my favorite restaurant.
Not that I had tried many.
I took my usual spot in the corner and my usual server, Laurah, a lady who was probably over sixty years and wore a style of makeup from the eighties, came to ask if I was going to have the usual.
“You know it,” I said, finally relaxing.
She winked at me and went back to put in my order.
I reached into the duffel bag and checked to see if the envelope with my money was still there. Of course it was, but I couldn’t help it.
I had been on Earth for five years. I had to learn how to take care of myself, and after so many years at the Guardian Academy, I had become rather good in physical combat, even though it was rare for my kind to fight like that.
I shook my head and closed the duffel bag. It was stupid for me to go down this road again. What was done was done. All I could do was lay low, keep my head down, and survive.
Pretending I was a freaking human.
Laurah brought over my noodles and my sweet tea, and after trying to make small talk and not getting anywhere with me, she left me alone. I ate slowly, enjoying this meal before I went back to Crosby, a small town about thirty minutes east of Houston, where I lived.
Or rather, where I hid.
Houston was good for fights and meals, but it was terrible to stay off other supernaturals’ radars. In Crosby, no one knew me. I came to Houston, made my money, ate, talked to the witch who made my potions, and went back home where I hid for another week.
What a great life.
I finished, placed a twenty-dollar bill on the table, and picked up my duffel bag. Halfway through standing, I felt a chill slither down my spine.
I sat back down, my eyes wide.
I didn’t have my magic anymore, but I knew what it meant.
Two Seraphim walked past the restaurant. One of them glanced through the large glass windows, but I pulled my hoodie over my eyes, pretending I was still eating.
When I looked up, they were gone.
I glanced around, alarmed. Of course, no one else noticed. Humans couldn’t tell angels or other supernaturals from humans, but for some reason, I could.
Besides, one of the Seraphim was Julien, a male who had been a year ahead of me at the academy. Thankfully, he hadn’t been the one who had spied inside the noodle shop or I was sure he would have recognized me, hoodie and all.
Holding my bag, I shot to my feet and scurried to the restroom in the back of the shop. Right beside the restroom was another door labeled “Employees Only.” I knew it led to the kitchen and a back door, which opened to a parking lot shared with the sports clothing store on the other side of the block.
I opened the door and stepped into the kitchen.
The cook looked up and glared at me. “You can’t be back here!”
Laurah saw me. “Dear, let me?—”
“No!” I snapped. “I just saw my ex.” I made sure to look afraid and made my voice tremble. “He … he wasn’t a nice man. I need to go, but I don’t want to run into him.”
