Immortal Memory (Book One) by Sylvia Frances Page A

demon who attacked them today.”
    Simra repeated to Mandy what Zach told
her. “Just stay with Grandmother. There are three beds in the back
bedroom and the master bedroom. Pick which one suits you and
Grandmother the best. Zach and I must go meet Jeff.”
    Mandy clasped and unclasped her hands.
“Wait. You said Tristan’s out to hurt you. Jeff might be in danger
too.”
    Simra took her cousin’s hands in hers
and tried to avoid the fear enveloping her own heart. By going to
the coffee shop, she would place their friend in much danger. Simra
had to make sure nothing happened to the detective tonight. It all
started with trusting God.
    “I know, Mandy, but Jeff's got to help
us. We’ll be fine. Zach told us to trust God, and He'll keep us
safe. And Zach will protect us.” Simra placed a gentle kiss on
Mandy’s cheek and squeezed her hand.
    “I'll say a prayer for you all, Sim. Be
careful.”
    Simra lingered for a moment, opened the
screen door, and stepped onto the porch. She turned to Zach. “Let’s
get this done. I’m beginning to believe that everything will be
fine.”
    Zach gathered her into his arms and
went to Simra’s house. She observed the blurry surroundings out of
the corner of her eye, but his soft stare reached deep into her.
Simra savored a small taste of God’s world. She felt nothing but
beauty in these moments. Splendor enveloped Simra and flowed
through her.
    Then, she shook her head after
recalling how he reminded her of Tristan sometimes. Zach was a
restless angel and would not stay in this world after serving his
duty to God. He'd leave her just like he left Lucinda all those
years ago. But where did he go before?
    The angel placed Simra onto her feet in
her front yard and stepped onto the patio. Zach gave her a solemn
look. "I deeply regret not saving Lucinda in time. It's all my
fault that she got cursed because I was distracted. I was too busy
trying to sort out my feelings for her. She and I weren't meant to
be. Heaven needed me, and that's why I left. I had no intentions of
hurting her. I loved her, and that's why I distanced
myself."
    Tears filled Simra's eyes. "You
could've been honest with her about you and Tristan from the start.
Then, maybe none of this would've happened. Now, you should
understand why it's so difficult to trust you. You tend to hide
things like your brother. Some angel you are." She walked away from
him and went into the house.
    "Simra…" Zach followed after
her.
    Avoiding Zach, Simra walked into her
bedroom. Tormenting memories caused her senses to overflow. Shadows
of multiple candles flickered all around the bedroom. A bottle of
white grape juice glistened on the night stand beside two wine
glasses. Tristan’s gift of the wooden heart, “Forever Mine”, stood
beside the bottle. The heart was still there and sent chills
throughout her body.
    She heard the faint sound of their old
love song "I Crave for You" somewhere inside the room. It was the
one Tristan picked out for them. The singer's eerie voice drove her
to the edge of insanity. Tristan's Burberry cologne sucked her into
a tormenting past of artificial love.
    Simra walked out and rushed into the
angel’s arms. “He’s in the bedroom.”
    Zach framed her face in his hands.
“Have faith that he won’t bother you. Pray while you change into
your clothes. Azazel’s only trying to win you back. Pay no
attention to him.”
    Tears flowed down her cheeks from all
the emotions draining her. “He has it set up exactly the way he did
when I came in from work. It was before we had problems and like
the night he asked me to marry him.”
    Zach pulled her close and squeezed her
with affection. “It was all a lie. Azazel’s only playing with your
mind. He wants you to stay in the past. Let go. It’s for your own
good.”
    Simra tilted her head up and
nodded. Zach and Tristan were playing with her mind. “Yeah, I know. I refuse to
have my heart broken ever again.”
    Zach framed her face in his
hands. "I