Nine Lives

By: ChocolateEclar

Passage 3: Tonia & Zak’s Hell On Earth

“As I was saying,” continued Zechariah, reopening Tonia’s door with a golden key off a key ring with several hundred labeled keys on it in bronze, gold, silver, and one red one. “Doctor Azures wants you to be careful with that sprained wrist of yours.”

“ARGH! Get out!” Tonia screeched, pushing him out the door, her bluish green wings spread out behind her in fury.

“Hey you, this is my house I can go into my rooms if I want,” retorted Zechariah, his crimson eyes flashing.

“My name’s not “Hey you!” Move it!” Tonia shouted.

“All right, Angel, but I expect you to stay out of my way today,” Zechariah snapped. “I have a crucial appointment with my commanders.”

“Then I have to come!” yelped Tonia, pausing in her shoving for a moment.

“Why would that be?” growled Zechariah.

“’Cause I’m s’ppose to make you change your ways; you know stop arms dealing and all that crap,” Tonia said sweetly.

“Right… Now, whatever-your-name-is, just stay here for a few hours,” said Zechariah.

Tonia hmphed and pushed him out the door, slamming it once more. ‘Let him just try an’ stop me,’ she thought. She dug in her dresser drawers, which she had chaotically stuffed her clothes in the previous day. She dragged out a wrinkled black robe with lacy scarlet trim and smirked. ‘After all,’ she reasoned, ‘even an Angel has a few black garments in her wardrobe.’ In addition, she took out a black tank top and a pair of blood red slacks. She then dug even farther for a brush, a pair of chopsticks, and a few bobby pins to place her red curls up into a sloppy bun. She discovered a pair of gold hoop earrings to finish off the day’s attire.

She then went over to the mirror over the dresser and chanted, “Guardian Angel Headquarters.”

“Yes, this is G.A. H.Q. How may I help you?” explained an Angel with flaxen locks and orange wings that replaced Tonia’s reflection in the mirror.

“Extension number two seven four two please.”

“Very well. Name please.”

“Tonia Celestine.”

“Alright. I’ll hook ya right up.”

“Thanks,” said Tonia.

The image became fuzzy for a moment before the inside if a neat bedroom appeared. Scribbling in a spiral notebook, Cassidy looked up at the chime that indicated she had a call. “Hello?” she inquired. “Oh! Hey, Tonia!”

“Hi, Cass,” Tonia said, smiling at her friend.

“So how’s it goin’ with Mr. Morris?” Cass questioned.

“Pretty horrible, but that’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” said Tonia. “I’m planning to pull a bit of a prank on Lord Vanity.”

Cass grinned impishly and asked, “What kind of prank are we talking about?”

“You know how about two hundred years ago the trend for Guardian Angel was to remain seen only to charges at all times?”

“Yea…”

“Well, I’ll pull that on my charge,” Tonia continued.

“Oh! And his commanders and other evil dudes’ll think he’s going crazy and that’ll put him off arms dealing, right?” Cass yelled.

“You got it! ’Though I’m not sure it’ll totally put him off arms dealing. It might make it worse so that he’s ticked at me,” Tonia answered.

“Yea, but just think! Then maybe you can convince Ambrose to bring ya back here,” Cass exclaimed.

“Yea. You’ll wish me luck?”

“Definitely.”

And in Tonia’s mind she added, ‘I’m gonna need it.’

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Zechariah sat in his office, the huge glass window behind his seat, as he faced his commanders. He scowled as it became Commander Boll’s time to speak. It was as Zechariah feared. Not only had Mr. Milton betrayed him, but so had another of his clients, a Mr. Michael Natty.

“So the exchange with Mr. Natty in London failed then?” Zechariah inquired, drumming his fingers on the wooden top of his desk. It was the only sign of his agitation; otherwise his face was an impassive mask.

“Yes, Sir,” replied Commander Boll. “The five agents sent there were murdered.”

“I see,” muttered Zechariah. “Well then, keep an eye on Lady Kassandra Cara. She is Mr. Natty’s ex-wife after all. I’m fairly sure she won’t join him though considering they detest each other.”

“May I speak, Morris-sama?” corpulent Commander Sutauto questioned.

“Yes, Commander.”

“I have reason to believe Migoto-san is planning something,” replied Commander Sutauto. “She has not contacted my men in many months and has ordered a thousand machine guns from Jacinda-san.”

“Lady Inez Jacinda, you mean?” asked Zechariah warily.

“Hai, Morris-sama.”

“Hmm, of course, it would be her,” murmured Zechariah. “Does anyone have her file on hand, gentlemen?”

“I do, Sir,” stated Commander Lloyd calmly. He took the manila folder from his suitcase and handed it to his superior.

Zechariah peered at the file, which was complete with a picture of the Spanish beauty, Lady Jacinda. She was the same age as him with tan skin and big brown eyes. Her dark hair was long and in a bun atop her head.

It was at this point Zechariah’s Guardian Angel decided to make an appearance. She silently entered, her teal wings tucked behind her and wrapped in black ribbon. She stepped over to the desk where Zechariah turned his frown on her. “I told you not to come here,” he snapped.

“What, Sir?” queried Commander Lloyd.

“I was addressing Miss Celestine, Commander,” Zechariah reprimanded.

Tonia snickered and said, “But I need to keep an eye on you. It’s my job after all.”

“Your job?!” repeated Zechariah.

All four commanders were gazing at their chief puzzledly while Tonia was having trouble not cracking up at the expressions on their faces.

“Sir,” said Commander Algernon, attempting to bring their conversation back on track, “What are we to do about Lady Jacinda?”

“Ah,” said Zechariah, turning back to his commanders. “Commander Algernon, I’d like you to keep an eye on her while Commander Sutauto watches over the Asian sector of the world. Commander Sutauto, make sure to watch Mrs. Migoto especially carefully. Commander Lloyd, Commander Boll, your orders are to conduct a thorough investigation of each of my clients. All of you must cease all trade until the search has been completed and inform me of your proceedings every day even if nothing occurs.”

“What are you gonna do while your minions bust their butts, hmm?” Tonia asked.

Zechariah grunted and retorted, “I’ll be doing even more important things, Miss Celestine!” To his commanders it appeared as if he were talking to the glass behind him.

“Yea, sure…” Tonia muttered, grinning as Zechariah ignored her and stood.

“I want a report from each of you every day from now on. That will be all, gentlemen,” ordered Zechariah.

Tonia was in a silent fit of giggles by then for the commanders were giving her charge partly concealed looks of incredibility as they bade Zechariah a good day and left. When they had finally shut the door, Tonia sprang to the air, releasing her wings and exclaimed, “That was priceless!”

“What the hell do you mean?!” roared Zechariah. “I told you-”

“Didn’t you notice they never once addressed me?” Tonia asked innocently from her perch dangling from the golden chandelier.

“I’m not in the mood for cryptic messages, Angel!” shouted Zechariah.

“Well, you see, Zechariah, have you heard of invisible Guardian Angels?”

“’In fairy tales.”

“Well, that’s what I am right now. I’m only visible to you, but, since I haven’t practiced it much, the enchantment should wear off soon,” Tonia explained.

“So now they think I’m crazy?” asked Zechariah eerily tranquilly.

“Yep,” replied Tonia cheerfully.

“Can you come down here for a moment, Miss Celestine?” Zechariah queried. His voice was level and dead cold, his fists clenched.

Tonia gulped and replied, “I think I’ll pass.”

“Angel!!!” screamed Zechariah, flinging his metal paperweight at Tonia.

“Ahh! Damn!” shrieked Tonia, dodging the object with a screech and a clash of frantically beaten wings. The metal hit the chandelier instead, sending crystal raining down.

“You’ll have to come down eventually, you know,” said Zechariah, low and dangerous, a leather bound book in his grasp.

“Who says?” gasped Tonia as the novel went whizzing by her head.

“What goes up must come down after all,” Zechariah growled, pitching another book at his Guardian Angel’s head.

 Tonia, whose red curls were tumbling out of her bun, panted and said, “Oh, come on! You’re not suggesting I give up, are you?”

In response Zechariah hurled a lion bookend at her.

“Why don’t we make a bargain, hmm?” Tonia yelled. “You stop chucking stuff at me and you can replace my door with a metal one so I can’t do this again.”

“What kind of bargain is that?!” Zechariah snarled.

“Then you leave me no choice! I’m not gonna take this!” Tonia yelped, as the matching bookend went flying at her. “AMBROSE!!!” she cried out.

In a swirl of white feathers and amethyst fabric, a great frowning blonde figure appeared in the center of the room. Of course it was Tonia’s mentor and former Guardian Angel, Ambrose, in all his wrath.

“What is it, Tonette?” inquired Ambrose dryly. “’Having a squabble with Mr. Morris?”

“You could say that,” said Tonia weakly from her new roost on one of the surroundings bookcases.

“So,” said Ambrose, turning his fury on Zechariah, “You are the infamous Zechariah Morris?”

“That would be me,” Zechariah muttered, a defiant frown on his face and a book still ready to be thrown in his hand.

“By the pigment of your eyes combined with the texture of your hair, Mr. Morris, I would say you are descended from one Lord Kismet of the Septimus Clan. Have you heard of him?”

“I haven’t,” Zechariah answered.

“I figured as much,” said Ambrose, his expression loosening slightly. “I doubt you know of your lineage that far back. After all, Lord Kismet lived over a thousand years ago, back when dear Tonette over here was only a tot in her first life.”

“You’re making me sound ancient, old man,” teased Tonia. She still hadn’t moved from her spot.

“Well, in a way, you’re soul is quite old,” Ambrose said to her before turning back to Zechariah. “You see, Mr. Morris, Lord Kismet was the only Guardian Angel ever to willingly fail at helping his charge go through eight good lives. He even went so far as to corrupt his charge. By the time his charge reached her ninth life, the High Guardian Angels had decided to revoke his position as Guardian Angel and gave his former charge a new Guardian Angel. Now the charge is actually a Guardian and even a friend of Tonette’s.”

“Cassidy?” Tonia whispered.

“Yes,” replied Ambrose, smiling slightly. “Mr. Morris, there has never been anyone descended from Lord Kismet to become an Guardian Angel. This is one of the reasons behind the High Angels and myself decision to make Tonette your Guardian Angel. We have faith in her.”

“That day you left with Dela, was that-” gasped Tonia.

“It was the day we sentenced Lord Kismet to hell, which is where all souls that do not have eight good lives after ten lives go. This is your first warning, Mr. Morris,” said Ambrose.

“You think that changes anything?” Zechariah whispered.

“I have no idea, but if it doesn’t then expect to be frying below in a thousand years or so,” Ambrose replied. He cocked his head towards Tonia and said, “Why don’t you get off to your room, Tonette? Contact me, the other High Angels, or Cassidy if anything changes.”

Tonia nodded and glided down to the floor. She eyed Zechariah warily for a moment before bowing to Ambrose and exiting.

“I’ll be seeing you, Mr. Morris,” said Ambrose.

Zechariah remained silent, his frown deepening. In the next instant, Ambrose had vanished with a slight bow and another flurry of feathers and cloth, leaving Zechariah with his cogitations.

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A/N: I’m curious. Should I up the rating to PG-13? Please let me know in a review or an e-mail. Either way please review! ^__^