Jensea, an Angel's Touch: Into the World of Johnny (Tazmark Dark Fantasy/Horror Series) [Paperback]

Told from johnny's point of view, Book Two delves deeper into the world of johnny as he confronts his heritage, while on the ride of a lifetime through unpredictable twists and turns with supernatural beings in a mystery unfolding. johnny reaches for the stars (literally) with one hand and drags his human angel along with the other into time-space dimensions and dark experiences she'd prefer to forfeit. But as johnny would say, "ah, to play the play." This story elicits laughter, tears, and heart warming enlightenment in the face of violence, in a world of nightmares, with a touch of love.

A racket clamored from the alley at our side. A man stood there, shouting in French. He was a long-limbed, balding, cadaverous sort, wearing a tan service workers jumpsuit. Apparently, he'd flung an adolescent boy into some steel garbage cans, knocking them over. Cans rolled. Little scraps of paper somersaulted lightly down the alley on a bumpy breeze. The boy rose awkwardly with egg slime in his wavy black hair. His bluejeans and black tee shirt were liquid stained. Then, he slipped on a puddle of lard. His hip landed on a downed garbage can that rolled, and he smacked his head on pebbly dirt. Funny, really.

"Oh!" Jen gasped.

Funny to me anyway.

The man stomped up to the boy, shaking his fist. "Tu es mal!"

Entertainment.

The boy slithered over the garbage can, landing on his posterior. He kicked the can out from underneath his legs. "Non, sil vous plait, non!"

Jen grabbed my arm. "johnny, do something!"

I gave her a condescending sidelong glance. "I'm no savior."

"johnny!"

"I'm no savior," I said more sternly. "It's beneath me."

"You save me all the time!"

"Aren't you the lucky one."

The man yanked the boy up and shook him, screaming deliciously foul words.

Jen huffed hard. "You aren't going to help that poor boy?"

"No."

"Fine." She jutted her chin. "I'll handle it myself!"

"Why must you handle it, Jen? Practice detachment. Sit back and enjoy the show. A little blood never ended the world."

"How dare you want me to enjoy blood!"

"How dare you ask that I not."

She stared at the discordant pair, wincing. "Oh johnny, please, just paralyze them for a moment."

"No Jen. I want to watch."

"Fine. But if I get hurt, it's going to be your fault!"

She dashed down the alley, then slowed with feet of fear, before speeding up once more, then slowing again, nearly stopping. I followed, matching her uneven gait, knowing full well Diego had arranged this little incident to develop Jen's power. I'd allow it. It was time for her to explore her abilities, even if only to use them against my charming parents. I would endure her saving the boy, even though the saving of anyone, other than Jen or myself, vexed me. However, I would do nothing to enhance the flow of blood. As uncharacteristic as it was for me, I didn't feel like playing a blood game--still recuperating I guess.

Halfway there, Jen stopped. She looked over her shoulder to me. "If you loved me, you'd save him."

"If you loved me, you would ask no such thing."

"I don't understand you!"

"That's clear."

The man clutched the boy's shirt, engulfing his chin in black cotton. Then he backhanded the boy's face. I heard blood vessels pop. Sanguine fluid ran from the boy's nose.

The boy shrieked, "Sil vous plait, Papa!"

Jen burst into a sprint, yellow hair flying, black pumps smacking ground, looking most appealing in her little black dress. She stopped a few feet in front of the man. "Release him!"

I faded into the invisible state of Pericludies so that Jen would have a true challenge. Yet, I stayed not too far behind her. The man's head turned to her, his face masked with ugly rage. "C'est mon fils. Laissez-nous seuls."

Jen said, "I don't care if he's your son! Release him."

The man dropped one hand and stepped toward her, dragging the boy along. He made a fist at her and shook it. "Run away, or I'll beat you too!"

She stepped back and gasped. "Please sir, settle your argument with words. Violence never solved anything."

Personally, I couldn't have disagreed more.