Fallen: A Dark Paranormal Romance (Secret Society of Souls, Book 2)

by K. C. RILEY

  Then and there, I decided something.

  Sister Clara was wrong about me not being ready to work with the book’s magic. I was more than ready. And always feeling guilty for one thing or the other? It was way overrated.

  I…was done.

  “Whatever you’re doing, Miss Maverick, keep it up.” Mr. Pickleton placed the surprise quiz we had from last Friday down on my desk. An easy A.

  I plan to, I thought.

  Pinkleton finished distributing the test results before returning to the front of the class and scribbling on the board.

  “Electricity and magnetism,” he said, brushing the chalk from his hands. “Although conceived of as distinct phenomena until the 19th century, electricity and magnetism are now known to be components of the unified field of electromagnetism…”

  He continued on about particles, electrical charges, forces, charged particles in motion, and how they respond to magnetic forces. There was plenty more on how subatomic particles, including electrically charged electrons, protons, and neutrally charged neurons behave like magnets.

  I hadn’t read a thing on any of it, there was no time, and yet somehow I understood every word he was saying. Magic was essentially the same thing. It boiled down to two main components. Electricity and magnetism.

  There was one phrase about all of it that I couldn’t get out of my head. So much so, I found myself doodling it over and over in my notebook. The Unified Field. Pinkleton must have noticed me doodling as well.

  “So, Miss Maverick, how about you tell us the nature of a unified field?”

  Why did this guy always seem to have it out for me? Normally, I would have been caught off guard.

  “Electricity and magnetism are essentially two aspects of the same thing.”

  “How so?” he asked.

  “Well,” I said, twirling my pencil between my fingertips. “A changing electric field creates a magnetic field, and a changing magnetic field creates an electric field.” I had no actual idea of what I was saying, but it felt right.

  “So you are paying attention. Good job.” Pinkleton moved on to the next poor soul who wasn’t quite so lucky. And then on to another, another, and then another.

  The bell eventually rang and Christopher stopped me after class. I was kind of in hurry and didn’t want to be late for training in Alexandria. Sister Clara said it was going to be a doozy. The sooner I got it over with, the sooner I could go see Meghan. There had to be a spell for getting her to reveal where she’d hidden the amulet.

  “Hey, Maverick, wait up,” Christopher called out. He smiled as usual with perfect jock white teeth and hair. “Nice job in class.”

  “Thanks.”

  “What’s different about you?” His smile was almost blinding. “I mean aside from being the most beautiful girl in all of All Saints.”

  I stopped in my tracks. Something snapped. Instead of reacting or running the other way, I decided to try something else.

  “Really?” I glanced at Christopher with soft doe eyes as fire flowed through my veins.

  “It’s the hair,” he whispered, caught in my gaze.

  “Is it?” Each step I took toward him backed him up against the wall. And part of me liked it.

  His breath shortened. His pulse raced. He could barely speak. “Yeah.”

  “So? What do you want to do about it?”

  “About what?” he stuttered.

  “You and me,” I said seductively.

  “I uh…there’s uh…I…”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “There’s a house party,” Christopher finally answered. “Tomorrow night. You should come.”

  “Sounds like fun. I’ll think about it,” I said and walked away from him.

  “Yeah. Sounds good.”

  Christopher was still out of breath when I turned away, and a devilish smile curled over my face.

  “What’s up with you and Sister Clara?” Cassie asked. “She’s been watching you like a hawk.” We had been sparring all afternoon and finally had a few minutes to breathe. There was still a lot I knew the girls wanted to talk about.

  “Who knows?” I bent down to tighten the laces on my combat boots.

  “And what’s it like to have superpowers?” Josie asked. “You’ve been kicking everyone’s ass all day.”

  Yeah, I thought, surprised. I had.

  “This is way more than venom,” Cassie whispered. “And I’ve got a feeling Sister Clara knows it. You might want to tone it down.”

  She was right, of course. It just felt good to be good at something without having to think about it. Or work at it forever. Besides, kicking ass was cathartic.

  “How’s your aunt doing?”

  “I checked on her before school,” Cassie said. “You were right. She doesn’t remember a thing. Speaking of spells, we need to talk about last night, about the elements you conjured through me and Josie.”

  “Yeah,” I said, checking Kai out from the corner of my eye.

  It was official. He was a part of The Society. So much so, he had already joined Alexei and the boys in helping us to train.

  Kai had been fighting barefoot. And it was more than hot.

  I tried not to stare at the sexy gray sweats that hung low at his hips. Or the black tank top that stuck to his abs, the one drenched in the sweat that ran down from his head, neck, and chest. He was the only wolf I hadn’t sparred with yet.

  “Earth to Lizzy.” Cassie patted her sweaty forehead with a towel.

  “Yeah. Totally.” The truth was if they were looking for answers, I didn’t have any. “Your room?”

  Cassie nodded.

  “I’m curious. Both Mason and Kai just turned. And Boyd turned only a week ago. How do they already know how to fight?”

  “It’s the wolf DNA. It’s already in them.” A slick smile eased across Josie’s face as she devoured Mason with her eyes.

  I gestured vomiting in my hand.

  “Right, like your eyes haven’t been glued to Kai’s ass all morning. No judgment. It’s understandable. There’s something about the wolf that’s just…hotter.”

  “All right, girls.” Sister Clara clapped her hands together. “Back to work. New groups, new partners.”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I said with a grin as I got up from the floor.

  “Miss Maverick, you’ll be in Kai’s group.”

  Finally.

  It was me, two other girls, and Kai. The rest of the groups consisted of Alexei, Boyd, and Mason. The weapons this round were sticks. I was up first.

  I tuned in to the energy and electricity of The Book of the Unnamed.

  I twirled and flipped the sticks in my hands as though I had been born doing it. The sticks felt like a pure extension of myself—of my own power—which I finally had some access to. The connection was unlike anything I had experienced. And it was only the beginning. I couldn’t stop thinking about how I had been so afraid of magic. And why? It was exhilarating.

  “I’ll try and take it easy on you,” Kai said, smiling. The wolf in him was strong. Fast. Clever. He had been knocking everyone on their ass as much I had. And it hadn’t even been twenty-four hours since his first transformation.

  “Don’t,” I said, knowing I was just as quick, just as strong, and just as fast.

  Kai growled, ready to strike. Something raw and primal warmed up my spine. I could smell and taste him, an alluring elixir of spiced deodorant, sweat, salt, and musk. I channeled all of that energy into the sticks.

  Kai attacked first. He was quick as lightning. I countered by diving low to the ground and cracked my weapon against the backs of his legs. He grunted as he fell onto his back.

  It only took a second for him to flip up to his feet. “Nice move. You won’t get another.”

  The corner of my mouth curled into a smile as we circled each other.

  I twirled the stick in one hand as I kept the other steady and ready to strike. Kai quickly disappeared from in front of me as though he
had sliced through time itself. But I could still feel him. Sense him. I quickly turned, knowing exactly where he would show up.

  Within seconds he was flat on his back. Again.

  Honestly, it was the most fun I’d had since jumping off the roof top of All Saints only to land in the arms of an angel. Jake.

  And crap. That was all it took, me taking my eyes and senses off of Kai for one second before hitting the mat. Hard.

  “So, you’re not the only one with moves, after all.” Kai gave me his hand. His demeanor was cocky, strong. Confident with a touch of sweetness.

  I took his hand and then pulled him down to the ground to land on top of me. His breathing was hard.

  His eyes locked onto mine, his lips and face flushed. His heart pounded against my chest. It was a moment until I flipped from underneath him to grab his arm and lock it backward. I didn’t even know I could do that. He growled until he gave in and slapped his hand over and over on the ground.

  I let go and got up, this time giving him my hand.

  “Not bad,” he said, taking it. “Let’s see if you can do it again.”

  I smiled wickedly because that’s how it went for the rest of the afternoon, each of us scoring a jab on the other with ultimately no winner.

  It had been a long day of training and although I was way more hyped than pooped, by the end of it, I was completely drenched in sweat and stunk to high heaven. I was about to head to my room and gather my stuff for a shower, all the while running through the next step in my plan to ascend and save Jake, when Cassie stopped me.

  “Don’t forget, we need to talk.”

  “Yes,” I said. “But can we do it later? I thought I would go see Meghan.”

  “Oh…right.” Cassie lowered her voice. “Do you want us to come with? We could help.”

  “It’s okay. I’ll be fine. Besides, I kind of don’t want to draw too much attention.”

  Cassie looked disappointed and yet, surprised. “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah.” I didn’t think twice about it—what she or anyone else in the room was feeling. It was liberating not being hindered by empathy. “How’s seven?”

  Cassie’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Sounds good.”

  I parked in front of the hospital and was about to get out when I saw three of the members of The High Council walking out and crossing the street. What were they doing at the hospital?

  Instead of going into panic mode, I stayed calm. I sat back in my seat and patiently staked the place out like some kind of undercover agent. Where to even begin with The High Council? According to Mrs. Ellington, they were pretty much the devil. It was ironic, the devil calling out the devil. Still, killing Reginald for simply being different—and stripping a witch of her natural power—was just wrong. She also said to be wary of spies.

  The High Council weren’t just visiting a sick family member. They were up to something. My gut said it had everything to do with Meghan and the amulet.

  I waited a good twenty minutes. The coast seemed clear and I was about to get out of the car again when this time I noticed Christopher going through the front doors.

  As far as I knew, he wasn’t a member of The Society. I thought back to the day he had warned me about Jake. He told me to be careful because Jake was more than he seemed. What did Christopher actually know? Was he one of The High Council’s spies?

  I leaned back into my seat and sighed. I would simply have to play smart, wait, and find out.

  Another twenty minutes went by and he hadn’t come out. My patience was waning. And it was already dark. Damn it. I needed that amulet. I needed to ascend. And I needed to save Jake. But I couldn’t risk running into the High Council or Christopher. Not here. I was about to start the car to leave when Christopher finally exited the doors, crossed the street, got in his car, and took off.

  Cautious, I sat for another twenty minutes just to make sure the coast was clear.

  I finally got out of the car and crossed the street.

  A gust of wind blew a runaway flyer against my leg. Hmmm. It was the same flyer for the tent revival found in Mr. Johnson’s pocket. The one I was supposed to be driving Miss Lyle to next week in order to go see the Reverend Brother of Light. The fliers were blowing everywhere down the street.

  The wind stopped and they had all disappeared. They were all gone except the one in my hand.

  A war is coming. The memory echoed from something Mrs. Ellington had said the night I joined The Society. Whatever. I tucked the flyer away in my pocket, went inside, and spoke to the nurse at the front desk.

  “I’m here to see Meghan Wheeler,” I said politely.

  The young nurse was dressed in blue scrubs and sported a close-shaved goatee and a thin mustache. His light brown skin glistened from the fluorescent lights that hung above. He had a buzz cut and practically smiled with his sultry dark-brown eyes.

  “It must be her lucky day,” he said.

  “Why is that?” I asked.

  He looked down at his clipboard. “Well, you’re the third, no fifth visitor she’s had for the day.”

  The fifth, I thought. The three High Council members, Christopher, and myself. At least the numbers added up right. They had all been here to see her and now I was sure of it.

  “You’ll want to go to the fifth floor. We had to move her. She’s in Room 580. I just need you to sign here.”

  I grabbed the pen and clipboard to sign my name. “Thanks.”

  The guy winked. “Don’t mention it,” he said. “By the way, I’m Devin.”

  “Thanks, Devin,” I said, flirting back.

  I left to leave when he called out. “If you need anything else. Let me know.”

  “I will.”

  The elevator door opened, and I pressed five. My muscles tightened at the thought of Christopher and The High Council having gotten to the amulet before I could.

  A bell dinged and the doors opened again. I proceeded down the sterile hall until I got to Room 580.

  Meghan sat in a chair with her eyes glazed over as she stared out the window.

  I was caught between feeling grateful she had been strapped and locked away—the girl who had made my life a living hell—and feeling sorry for her. Only because I had been there. The padded cell, the endless drugs and head fog, and the loneliness and insanity, I knew it all too well.

  With her hands in her lap, she gently rocked back and forth. Her rich black hair was dull and wild. I sat in the chair across from her.

  “Hey,” I said, wondering what she was so fixated on. It was too dark to see anything outside.

  She didn’t budge.

  “I like what they’ve done with the room.” The small talk was getting me nowhere. I just needed to get on with it.

  “Look. I’m sorry about everything. All of this. But I need your help. It’s important. What did you do with the amulet?”

  Nothing.

  “The amulet. Meghan, can you tell me what you did with it?”

  Nothing. I was close to tapping into The Book of the Unnamed to bring up a spell that could either get her to speak or meld me into her mind which I quickly determined was a definite no-no. Who knew what kind of crazy was up in there? Besides, I had my own cray-cray.

  “Look. Jake is in trouble. He needs my help. He needs your help. Our help. If not, he’s going to die. I need that amulet to save him.”

  Meghan turned her head to face me. Finally, a sign. I searched her eyes for another, but they were as empty as the window she had been staring out of.

  “Jake could die,” I stressed again, hitting a nerve. And clearly, a big one, because she started spewing the same nonsense she had from earlier visits.

  “The one is the many and the many is the one. It’s beautiful. Everywhere. Can’t you see it?”

  Her face glowed in madness and euphoria as though she was seeing God himself. Itself. And after everything I had seen through Jake’s eyes, who knows, maybe she was. Regardless, none of it was helping me get any closer to
the amulet.

  Meghan’s voice and madness grew louder. I couldn’t take any chances of being kicked out.

  I passed my hand in front of her. “Petorum.” In the next second, she was fast asleep.

  A spell to see into her mind. To locate the amulet, I mentally said to The Book of the Unnamed. She didn’t leave me much choice.

  My body tingled as the pages flipped through me. A spell soon appeared within my inner eye. So cool.

  I held my hands out. I don’t know, because I was supposed to. “Itres Shar Notedrenum.”

  A blue light rushed out of my hands toward her.

  Sparks flew when the spell hit her and then bounced back. The wave of energy threw me across the room on my ass. Crap. Won’t do that again. And double crap. There was smoke. I jumped up to press the button for a nurse. Meghan crawled over the smoldering bed and hid in the corner of the room where it was safe.

  The smoke alarm went off and I calmly got the hell out of there as the nurses ran past me.

  Meghan would be fine. I was sure of it. Besides, there weren’t any flames. Not exactly. The nurses would have definitely gotten to her in time.

  Still, that spell, it could have killed her. Let alone, me. Something was protecting her. But what?

  At 7:00 p.m. I knocked on Cassie’s door.

  Josie answered. She seemed concerned. “So? How did it go?”

  It was the same for Cassie who was sitting on the floor. She glanced up from the enormous book in her lap.

  “Not so well.” I entered the room and plopped down next to Cassie.

  “Some of the members of the High Council were there. And so was Christopher.”

  “What?” Cassie asked, her amber eyes intense. “Why? Were they together?”

  “I don’t think so. But maybe. I don’t know. I can only guess they wanted the amulet. They were both there at different times. I waited before going in.”