Between

by Mary Ting

  “Who sent you?” Austin asked in a commanding tone.

  “You already know.”

  “I want to hear it from you.”

  “The one who seeks revenge shall triumph in victory.”

  “That’s a long name.” Austin snorted to his own remark. “Have you heard of Aliah?”

  “No.”

  “Let me refresh your memory,” Austin said and punched him hard in the gut.

  Johnny led out a loud moan. “You know him now?” Austin asked, looking furious.

  “You can’t make me talk,” Johnny mumbled.

  Austin stretched out his hand to a shattered piece of mirror on the ground, willing it to him. With a twist of his wrist, he stabbed Johnny’s leg. “Yes, I can.”

  “Ahhh!” Johnny cried out in pain. Blood slithered down his leg, making his dark jeans even darker.

  “You’re in a mortal’s body. You’ll bleed like a mortal, so shall you die like one. You have one more chance, or you shall face my friends.”

  “I’m not afraid of death, nor am I afraid of you.”

  “Tough guy. Why don’t you tough this?” Austin drove the mirror into his gut. Blood gushed out, and Johnny’s face grew pale. He looked like he was going to faint. Unable to stand straight, he curled in, using Austin’s bow as a support.

  Austin slapped his face to get his attention. “Hey, Johnny. What’s your real name?”

  “It’s Johnny Walker, you fool,” he said softly with an angry tone.

  “Really. Why not call yourself Johnny Be Good instead?”

  Johnny didn’t answer. He was moaning in pain.

  “Just kill the poor bastard,” Trinity requested. “I want to get out of here.”

  “Trinity,” Johnny said weakly. “It’s nice to see you again.”

  Everyone glared at Trinity. “I knew him a long time ago. You know the details,” Trinity defended herself quickly. Then all eyes went back to Johnny.

  “Why don’t you just call him Johnny Pain for being a pain in the ass?” Patrick declared.

  “Now, I’m going to give you one last chance. What’s your name?” Austin asked slowly as if he was talking to someone incompetent.

  “My name is Kyle and Aliah is going to rip you apart,” he mumbled as his eyes rolled back.

  “Well, Kyle. It’s your lucky day.” Austin took something out of his pocket that looked like a pill and shoved it into Kyle’s mouth. He punched him in the stomach, making Kyle gasp and swallow it. “You get to go home. You give Aliah a message for me. Let Claudia be,” his words softened as he said her name. “Go rot in Hell or else we’ll be coming. Do you hear me, Kyle? I don’t want to see your ugly face again or else you leave me no choice but to finish what I started. Believe me, you’ll be swimming in your blood.”

  “Enough talking,” Patrick said. “I don’t think he can hear you anymore. Did he swallow it?”

  “Yeah. He’ll lead us straight to Aliah.”

  “That’s if he hasn’t lost too much blood. Why did you have to stab him in the stomach?” Patrick asked.

  “I felt like it. He made me mad.” He wanted to kill Kyle. Kyle wanted to hurt Claudia, and that made Austin furious. He would hurt anyone who tried to hurt someone he cared deeply for, even if that person was his own kind.

  “Can we go now?” Holly asked in irritation.

  Austin dropped Kyle to the floor. “

  He should wake up before Black Velvet closes. Let’s go. I’m on watch tomorrow. ”

  Chapter Twenty-One

  I peered through the layers of my hair, which was cascading down my face. I looked up to see Michael’s heartfelt smile, warmer than the sun’s rays that escaped through the small opening from the blinds. “Merry Christmas,” he said. I must have slept in his arms all night. And that thought sent happy chills all over. “Merry Christmas,” I replied, snuggling into him as if I could snuggle even more.

  “You know Austin is on watch today, don’t you?” Michael asked through grinding teeth.

  “Yes,” I said flatly, waiting to see what he would say.

  “Just be careful. I don’t trust him. I don’t like the way he looks at you.” Michael gingerly ran his hand from my shoulders to the tip of my finger.

  “He looks at everyone that way,” I teased, trying to imagine Austin’s face and what it looked like when he looked at me.

  Michael didn’t say anything. He looked lost in his thoughts.

  “One more hug and a kiss before I leave,” he said, leaning down to press his lips on mine, but he missed as I backed away, realizing that he was about to leave without his gift.

  “Ouch. Rejection,” he muttered when I ducked to move away. I turned to him and gave him a sorry smile. “I want to give you your gift, and I need to give you Davin’s, Caleb’s, and Vivian’s too.”

  “You know we don’t celebrate birthdays and holidays.”

  “Yes, but they got me something, and it is customary to give something back.”

  “But I already have the only present I ever want. The only thing I need.”

  “This is different. You can’t say no; it’s rude. Anyway, it’s something small…something to remember me by.”

  “I don’t need any reminders.”

  I plopped down beside him on the bed and laid out two boxes in front of him. He hesitantly unwrapped the first box, took the gift out, and looked at it as if he didn’t know what it was.

  I took the scarf out of his hand and placed it around his neck. “It’s a scarf. I know you don’t really need one, but I knew it would look good on you.” And so it did.

  “I love it,” he said, as his eyes glistened.

  “I bought one for Davin, Caleb, and Vivian too. Actually, everyone has the same red scarf.”

  “They’ll love it.” He leaned over and kissed me on my forehead. Eyeing the second box, he opened it with a grin. He became frozen…didn’t move a muscle nor did he say a word. I got worried, but when I saw his eyes water up the way they did, my eyes did the same.

  He took it out gently, like he was holding something so delicate that if he moved the wrong way, it would break. It was a tiny picture frame on a hook with a picture of Michael and me. It was a little trinket that you could clip on a backpack or a purse. I reached for my backpack to show Michael. “See, I have one too.” I flipped it over. “I had this engraved. It says ‘M & C forever.’ And on the bottom, it says ‘Love knows no boundaries.’ Do you remember Davin’s words when both of you took me back to the campsite?”

  He nodded and looked at me with his deep brown eyes, like he had seen something wonderful for the first time. “Claudia, I will cherish this as long as I live.” His hand brushed my cheek, and he became quiet. He didn’t seem to know what to do with it except to hold it in his hand.

  “Here,” I pulled the loop of his jeans and clipped onto it. “This way, you won’t lose it, and I can just dangle on your pants.” I giggled. Then I became serious. “This way, you’ll never forget me, no matter how many years have passed. You can have it forever.” Don’t ever forget me, is what I wanted to say, but I couldn’t get the words out…I was afraid I might lose it. I became all tangled up inside, and my lips started to tremble. I opened my mouth to say something, but Michael started speaking.

  “I’ll find a way to keep us together, no matter what it takes. You’re my miracle, and I’ll never let you go. I pr…” He was going to say the word promise, but he didn’t, knowing how I felt about that word.

  I cuddled up to him as the beauty of his words pained me. We were lucky to have these moments, today, tomorrow, but not the future.

  “Austin is here,” he said, suddenly getting even more serious. “I’ll get the other boxes later. I have to stop by somewhere.”

  “Where?”

  Michael didn’t answer me. He raised me up and we headed toward the front door. I didn’t press my questions. We’d had an emotional moment, and I was about to let someone in that he despised.

  Michael opened the door.
“Come in.” His tone was actually friendly.

  Austin looked surprised, waved his hand without a word, and walked in. “I used the front door. It’s just me today. I was planning on taking her to the Island if that’s okay. She’ll be safe there for sure. You okay with it?”

  Michael looked at Austin oddly, wondering why he was asking for his permission. “Sure. Long as you don’t keep her there against her will.” Michael looked at me for confirmation. I shrugged my shoulders with uncertainty.

  “No hot cocoa this time,” Austin said, looking a bit embarrassed then curling his lips to a half smile.

  “I’ll be back tonight. I’ll meet you at the Island,” Michael said, kissing me on my cheek. “You may want to bring an overcoat. It seems cold outside. No need for a white overcoat.” He was referring to Austin’s wings. Then he flung his wings open. I watched him take off and disappear into the dark clouds. When an explosion of lightning hit, I knew rain would come.

  Austin stood still, as if he was waiting for me to tell him what to do, so I took the initiative. “I’m going to call my mom first, and then I guess we can go.”

  He didn’t agree or disagree, his face casting no emotion as if his thoughts were a world away. As I was about to go to my bedroom, he spoke. “It’s Christmas. Would you like to visit your grandmother at the cemetery?”

  I stopped abruptly and stood still, as if he had born terrible news. The sting of his words rolled in, and my heart shriveled with pain. Why? She isn’t there. Why go there and be miserable? Why go there and have my heart ripped out again? I wanted to say, but the words wouldn’t come out.

  “We can stop by and get some fresh flowers. It will do you some good,” he said tenderly.

  Austin was right. It was Christmas and the least I could do was visit her, but I didn’t know if I could. Many people visit their passed loved ones and bring fresh flowers, but the thought never crossed my mind. In fact, it never did because I was too afraid, too scared of the pain, too scared to cry. But then I recalled the words she’d said to me in my dream; it was okay to feel the pain, it was okay to feel the hurt. I just had to let her go.

  I turned to face him with the realization that I could do this. I wasn’t alone. Austin would be with me. He was Gamma’s friend and now someone I could call my friend. After all, I had to trust him with my life. “Okay, let me call my mom, and then we can go.”

  He let out a triumphant smile and sat comfortably on the couch. “I’ll be right here.”

  Austin offered to pay for the fresh flowers, but I told him that if I didn’t pay for it, then it didn’t come from me. He smiled, amused by my words, and we headed to the cemetery. When I got out, there was a stifling gust of ice-chilled air that forced me to pull my overcoat tighter. It was a lot colder and windier up here on the hill.

  Austin led the way, and I hesitantly followed as tears swelled up. When we reached her burial site, he backed away, giving me space. My stomach cringed painfully, like I had eaten bad food, the acid bubbling, raising to the top and giving me a big lump in my throat.

  I glanced around, looking at the grass that now lay on top of her, and it made me think about her body underneath the ground. Though I knew that the soul that had been Gamma was somewhere else, it was hard to imagine her body down there. Kneeling, I placed the mixed bouquet of flowers right by her tombstone. I traced her name with my eyes and came to terms with the fact that she was gone.

  “Hi, Gamma,” I said softly. “I know that you’re really not in here, but I wanted to say Merry Christmas and give you this flower. You know it’s the first Christmas without you.” My lips trembled as I wiped my uncontrollable tears. “Christmas Eve, we would go to midnight mass together and you would let me open only one of your presents, and then I would open more presents the next day. You sure did spoil me, and Mom would get mad at you for giving me so much. You always did give me too much—too much of your love, kisses, and hugs. These are what I will hold on to. I promise to let you go, but I’ll never forget our times together. I promise you because you told me to in my dreams.”

  I slumped over the tombstone as if I could give her a hug. With that, I felt as if I could breathe. The hole in my chest felt better. I had thought I was going to lose it, but I kept my control. I didn’t know how long I had been in that position, but my legs were tired and cramped. Then I felt Austin’s arms. He pulled me up and held me tightly. “I’m sorry I made you come. I thought it would help you start healing.”

  My head still pressed into his chest, I shook my head. “No, I’m glad you made me come. Thank you.” My voice muffled into his shirt. Feeling multiple wet drops, I looked up and our eyes locked. Then I saw the Austin who had taken me to the hospital…the Austin who helped me the night Ryan attacked me. Even though he was assigned as my guardian angel, I knew he did it because he was a genuine good being. I had grown to accept his friendship and cared about him in a way that connected me to Gamma. When I was around him, for some reason or other, I felt close to Gamma, and it was very comforting.

  Austin looked at me the way Michael had described. Now I could see plain as day what he meant by not liking the way he looked at me. His eyes were luring, fighting something he desperately wanted to do. I didn’t know what to do, so I looked away. “Let’s go, please.” Then I felt his wings enclosing me in the middle of daylight, sheltering me from the rain. What if someone saw? But no one was around me and those who were at a distance didn’t pay attention to us. “How about your car?” I asked as the thunder boomed, making me feel uneasy.

  “I’ll get it later,” he said.

  And we were gone.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Austin and I were transported to the Island of Eden. Immediately, I took off my overcoat as I saw the puffy clouds spread across the sky, looking like whipped cream on an ice cream sundae. The sun shone warmly, but with the combination of the soft, cool breeze, the weather was perfect. There was no evidence of any shield that surrounded this place, but I knew it was there.

  “You want to come in?” Austin asked, breaking my thoughts, opening the double doors—the same doors I had run out off when I tried to escape. I tried to stifle the unpleasant memories of that day when I’d found out who he was. “I have something for you.” He looked more excited than I did.

  “You got me a Christmas present?” I asked, sounding surprised. “Do you celebrate Christmas?”

  He looked at me as if I had asked him a question I should’ve known. “I mean,” I continued. “The alkins don’t celebrate anything, so I assumed the venators didn’t,” I said hesitantly.

  “We don’t. We don’t celebrate birthdays or holidays, just like the alkins. This is my first Christmas present I ever got for anyone.”

  “Oh, thank you,” I said humbly, feeling grateful and guilty for not giving him a gift.

  A big, red ribbon was placed on a bow, just like the ones the venators used for fighting but smaller. Was this for real? Was he playing a joke on me? Unsure of his intention, I asked another question. “Is this for me?” Then I thought, what a stupid question.

  He chuckled. “Yes. I just told you I had something for you, didn’t I?” he said, raising his brow, finding my question amusing. “I figured you needed something to protect yourself with. I don’t expect you to carry this with you…you couldn’t, but I will hold onto it just in case.”

  “It’s beautiful!” I commented, marveling at it. My heart pattered with elation. I wanted to jump up and down as I desperately tried to control my excitement. It was the color of silver with intricate designs and lines curling and intertwining like vines. It’s mine. I have a real weapon! Still mesmerized by it, I was afraid to place my hand upon it, as if it would disappear if I did. I continue to stare and I could feel Austin’s eyes glazing at my enjoyment.

  “So, what good is it when you can’t use it?” he said, moving it away from me.

  “You’re taking it back?” I asked, confused.

  “No, silly. I’m going to teach you how
to use it,” he said, swinging the bow effortlessly, as if it was just a long twig.

  “You’re going to teach me how to shoot?” I mumbled a question, unable to believe his words.

  “Here.” Austin stood behind me, and his body touching mine reminded me of something, a feeling of déjà vu. He placed the bow in front of me, matching my body against his, so close I could feel his chest rise and fall, and I had to calm the feelings that surfaced from his nearness. He raised his hand to the double doors, and they opened as if the wind had done it. The timing was perfect as the wind blew my hair away from my face. Austin pulled his right hand up, holding mine, and pulled back from where the string would be on a normal bow. “Aim for the target. Steady…pull back slightly…aim…fire.” Then he let go. A silver flame shot out, darting far into the distance, heading toward the cliff until I could see it no more.

  “That was great!” I shouted with exhilaration, turning toward him. I thought he had backed away, so I practically threw myself on him as I turned. He had to hold me so I wouldn’t topple onto him. I became flushed. “Sorry, I didn’t mean…”

  “No worries. I have that kind of effect on women, I suppose.”

  I ignored his remark. Though I was embarrassed by what had just happened, it quickly dissolved as I was more overwhelmed with this magical object still in Austin’s hand. “Thanks.” I snatched the bow, turned away from him, and ran my fingers along the surface. The bow was light, yet so powerful. I couldn’t believe this was mine; it was surreal. To have this in my possession, something that I could use to defend myself and my friends, was unbelievable. Where were my manners? “Austin, thank you,” I said sincerely. “This was very thoughtful of you.”

  “See, I can be thoughtful…not so selfish.”

  There were no words to say except to give him a genuine smile.