“Miss Mara, it’s so good to see you.” Angel said “But you know my name is Angelina, not Angel. I brought you baked macaroni and cheese and fried pork chops.”

“That right there is why you will always be my Angel. The home-cooked food you bring me tastes heaven sent and I can never get enough of it.” I said moving out of her way and allowing her to come in the door before closing it behind her.

Angelina Moore was a tall caramel-colored beauty of a woman with thick natural curls pulled back in a ponytail. She was a long-time tenant of mine who came from an abusive marriage with a worthless man who was constantly getting mixed up with different supernatural criminal organizations. Angel is as human as they come but her ex is a cambion. Cambions are a brutish half- demon spawn who will breed with anything that walks and can somehow manage to lure in women long enough to get them pregnant. Victor Moore managed to marry Angelina and it resulted in the most amazing little girl I have ever met, Christi Moore.

When Christi was 5 years old her father decided to use her as collateral with a russian human trafficking ring run by Babaroga a demonic entity not too different than Baba Yaga but don’t tell her that she will get extremely butthurt about being compared to “that old hag” according to her. Angelina was hurt trying to stop Babaroga’s minions from taking Christi from her and left in an alleyway where I found her. She was bleeding internally and near death's door and I was forced to use enough power that she knew what had happened and when she was well I asked her what happened. After she shook her head clear she told me about her husband and how she was trying to stop the Russians from taking her baby.

I told her I would find her and asked her name and what her daughter's name was. She told me and I was gone. It took me a few hours but I knew where to go. I tore through the supernatural part of the Russian mob until I got to Babaroga herself. She knew me and was very happy to release Christi and even agreed to leave my city for good if I didn't kill her. I returned Christi to Angel and the rest is history.

“Were those men trouble Miss Mara?” Angel asked a little shakily. “Ha, not at all my Angel, just a kitten and a pup thinkin they are in charge of something important.” I said with a laugh.

“Weres? What are weres doing here? I thought everyone important knew better than to come around here? Should we be worried about others coming around?” Angel asked.

“I explained things to him in pretty clear terms. I am sure he will pass on the word to the rest of the Covenant Council and they most certainly know who and what I am. I think he is new in his role and just hasn’t been told the situation fully yet. I promise you if anything needs to be explained more forcefully I will not hesitate because you have all been through more than your share of their bullshit.” I said firmly.

“I know you will Miss Mara. You have always protected all of us. Speaking of protecting us, was there a new arrival from the orphanage the other day? I saw someone new going into the place down the hall from me that was vacant.” Angel said.

I was just digging into the mac and cheese she brought and said around a mouthful “yeah… Diego…. 18….needs a job.” and I finished swallowing my bite and tore off a big chunk of pork chop. “Know anywhere hiring? He plans to go to welding school. Not sure how good a chupacabra will be at welding… wouldn’t his fur get singed a lot?”

Angel giggled at me “Miss Mara he’s not going to be welding in his shifted form. I think we are hiring a busboy for the evening shift if he doesn't mind the work or the hours. The pay isn’t great but I can only assume you are going to pay for everything whether he likes it or not until he is finished with school like you do with everyone?”

“Of course. I will always take care of my kids. That way when they get older they can take care of me like you do. I may not age but I am terrible at taking care of myself for an ancient immortal being. If you didn’t cook me food I would just eat chicken and waffles 5 times a day.” I said thinking about the empty plates of food I had sitting around. Wonder if I have any junk food around.

“I will have to bring Christi up when she is home from ballet camp. She really wanted to thank you for paying for it and buying her all the new ballet stuff so she fit in with the “rich kids” at the camp. I swear sometimes that kid loves you more than me. It’s always mama did you see what aunt Mara gave me? Mama did you know aunt Mara is a superhero? You are just lucky I love you just as much as she does.” Angel said, smiling.

“I am no superhero, and Christi worships you. I am just the fun aunt Mara that buys her shiny new things and can pick up a car. I love you all. I decided thousands of years ago that it was my mission in life and immortality to protect humanity from the monsters in the night. All of you represent the people I was too late to help and I am trying to make up for it now. Victor is lucky that Christi still loves her daddy or he would be ash floating in space for the rest of eternity.” I said with a flash of rage passing across my face before I controlled it.

Angel walked over to me carrying a plate with a huge piece of devils food chocolate cake and a full glass of ice cold milk. “I can see you are hangry still. Eat this and wash it down with that milk. Where do you put all this food in that tiny little body of yours? I am a foot taller than you and if I ate half of what you do I would explode. I need to pick up Christi in the morning from camp if you want to come along. She would be thrilled to see you there to get her with me.”

“That sounds like a great idea. We can get some ice cream on the way home. Well we can get breakfast then brunch followed by a light lunch and then get ice cream. That sounds like a great time to me. What time do we leave?” I asked

Angel laughed as she said “I will be up to get you at 7 am. Is that ok with you?”

“Sounds great” I responded.