by Mary Ting
I poked his chest with my index finger, making sure not to show more of my angel strength than needed. Dang. His chest was so firm. With my eyes boring into his, I said slowly, “Believe me when I say this: you must be the most arrogant and self-absorbed being in the entire galaxy. Be my worst nightmare. I challenge you.”
Eli took a step back, his smirk still smeared on his face. Ugh!
“Just the galaxy? You should have said the universe. And by the way, you’re on. I’m the king of accomplishing challenges.” His lips twitched, trying not to grin again. “By the way, I’m Eli.”
“I’m—”
“Lucia. I already know.”
I had no words after that. We stood there staring at each other for a few long seconds. His eyes were intense and brooding. It was hard to look away. Breaking our lock, I shifted my eyes to a thin black leather cord around his neck. I tried to get a peek at it, but I didn’t want to come off as being a pervert or something.
The sound of the first bell broke me out of our stare. How long had we been standing there speechless? Pivoting without a word, I took a few steps back to the main building. I looked behind me to see if Eli followed, but he was nowhere to be seen. Then a soft breeze went right through me, leaving me with the lingering smell of him.
Chapter 8
Humans were strange beings. I didn’t understand why we always sat at the same table and had the same seating arrangement during lunch. Maybe it was just this group of people Zach and I associated with. From listening to their discussions and observing their behaviors, they seemed mainly focused on their looks and social status.
My eyes shifted to Eli’s table. I couldn’t help the gravitational pull he had on me. He had me curious, more so now knowing he thought I was some kind of demon. I wondered if all those people hanging around him were demons too, or if the girls simply had crushes on him and wanted his attention.
Eli certainly had charisma like Abel, but in a dangerous, different way. And what was all that commotion between Eli and his friend, and Eli and Abel? I had wanted to ask him when I followed him, but he’d gotten me so flustered I’d decided not to. It would have made my stalking more evident.
“Did you ask anyone to the homecoming dance, Zach?” Vanessa asked, batting her eyelashes and checking her hair with a compact mirror. After she closed it, she leaned closer to my brother.
“Geez, Vanessa. It’s only been two days since school started. Leave the poor new guy alone,” Cayden said with a mouthful of pizza.
“Let her be,” Abel spat. “At least she’s off my tail.”
“Shut up, Cayden. Just because no one will go with you, doesn’t mean you have to be a jerk about it. And I was never on your tail, Abel.” She said his name with venom in her tone.
“I have a parade of girls lined up. Besides, it’s on Friday the thirteenth. Hell, no. I’m not going.” Cayden shuddered. “You’ve heard the rumors. Clarissa went missing half a year ago on Friday the thirteenth, along with others from different high schools.”
“Clarissa? Who’s Clarissa?” one of Abel’s friends asked.
“You don’t need to know now,” another laughed as if it was a joke.
“It’s true.” Jack almost jumped out of his seat. “If you have the blood of—” He stopped when he realized all eyes were on him.
“Blood of what?” Abel asked, taking a sip of his drink.
Cayden leaned over. “See, even Four-Eyes is being smart about it. Something bad is going to happen.”
“I don’t believe in that nonsense, right girls?” Vanessa asked her friends, wiping her lips with a napkin.
Judy, one of Vanessa’s groupies, chimed in, “Right. We can’t miss our last homecoming dance. It’s so wrong.” She giggled.
The conversation stopped when Milani entered the cafeteria. Even with all the chatting and the busy noise around us, the sound of her footsteps clicked in my ears.
“Here comes the freak.” Kohl ran his fingers through his reddish hair. He seemed edgy. “No fries or ketchup this time. Ha!”
Just as Milani passed by, the applesauce from Cayden’s plate flew to Kohl’s shirt.
Kohl’s arm muscles twitched and his jaw tightened. “What the hell, Cayden?”
“I didn’t do it,” Cayden retorted.
Kohl hissed, narrowing his eyes at Milani, but she’d already reached Eli’s table. “That freak did it to me again. Something bad always happens when she’s near me. I’m going to wring her neck.”
Jack placed his trash into his brown paper lunch bag and pushed up his glasses with his index finger. “She’s not a freak. She’s just different. You should try to be nice to people who are different from you. We are all different and special in our own way.” His eyes were glued to his bag, never looking up, but his tone was fierce.
Cayden stood up like his butt was on fire. “You want to say that a little bit louder, Four-Eyes?” His tone was threatening.
“Quit it,” Abel ordered.
“Stop calling him Four-Eyes, Cayden,” I blurted out without thinking. When Jack left the table shaking his head, I went after him. “Jack, where are you going?”
Jack spun around. He dipped his head low, trying not to show his pain. I wanted to console him, but I didn’t know how.
“Lucia, I won’t be sitting at that table tomorrow. You can sit there if you like. We can still be friends, but they’re not my friends.” As always, his tone was gentle with me.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Jack,” I said somberly. “I didn’t know you were that unhappy.”
“Well, I don’t say much.” He shrugged. “But I can’t stand bullies, and I might do something stupid or get my ass kicked if I stick around any longer. Do you understand?”
“I do,” I replied, not sure how to handle the situation. My main purpose was to find some answers, but I was learning more than I thought I would. Humans were complicated. Sometimes they hurt each other because they were hurting inside. I believed there was good in Cayden, but for some reason, he took his pain out on Jack. Whatever his reasons, it wasn’t right.
“Oh, by the way, Lucia….” he released a small grin, “I appreciate you caring about me, but next time, please let me be the man. You don’t need to be a big sister and stick up for me. I can fight my own battles.” He leaned in even closer to whisper, “It’s a...you know...male ego thing.”
Jack was so cute. I loved how sweet he was. Seeing his smile get bigger, my heart softened. “Got it, Four-Eyes.” I winked.
He inhaled a deep breath and his eyes glowed, as if he’d seen the most precious thing. “You can call me the ugliest name. It would still sound wonderful to my ears.” He released a deep sigh and then stiffened as if he suddenly remembered what he wanted to say. “Oh, by the way, my grandmother asked if you could come over for dinner tonight. Zach and your uncle are welcome too.”
“I would love to.” I lit up with a huge smile.
“Great.” He left the cafeteria just as the bell rang, so pleased he almost floated off the ground.
“Looks like I have competition.”
I knew that voice—the one that had captured me from the first word—the one that beckoned my full attention. I turned to the sound of Eli’s voice, startling at first, yet somehow soothing. My eyes flew to the leather cord at his neck, curious to know what he was hiding, and then met his stunning, sparkling eyes.
“Competition? For what? Jack is one of the sweetest friends I know. And—and you’re not.” Crap. That was the lamest thing I’d ever said. I was an intelligent being, but somehow he made me act like I had no brain, as if my thoughts jumbled up every time he was around. “Looks like you have plenty of competition—girls, demons, or whatever at your table. Go talk to them.” When I pointed at his table, everyone there was staring at us.
Eli bit his lip and gazed at mine. “I don’t want to talk to them. I want to talk to you.”
“Isn’t that too bad.” I crossed my arms. “I don’t want to talk to you. You have plenty of friend
s over there to talk to. I’m on my way out.”
Giving me a mischievous grin, he said, “So you were watching me?”
“No.” I looked down at the floor, hoping he wouldn’t see my blushing cheeks.
“Then are you jealous, Luuuchiaa?” He dragged out my name. The way he said it sounded so intimate, like we’d been friends for a long time.
I stifled a laugh. “Oh, please. Don’t flatter yourself. You’re my worst nightmare, don’t you remember?” I turned my back on him to leave, but my body swung around without my consent and was inches away from his. My eyes went straight to his hand gripping my arm. When I gazed up, his dark mysterious eyes pierced deeply into mine. It felt like he was looking through me, maybe even searching for something in them. It took him a few seconds to respond.
“I do remember.” He paused as if to take a moment to assess. “Something isn’t right today. I suggest you don’t go out tonight. In fact, stay home.”
I yanked my arm from his hold. “That’s a strange demand. You don’t have the right to order me around.”
Eli grabbed me again. His arm wrapped around my waist until my body touched his. I gasped at the sudden realization of what happened and the fact I liked the way he held me. When his lips brushed the tip of my ear, I quivered.
“I’m serious,” he whispered. “I’m warning you. Don’t go out tonight. Something evil is in the air when there’s a blue moon. I don’t know what kind of demon you are, but I know one thing for sure, you’re not evil. You’re stubborn, but not a monster. And by the way”—he inhaled a deep, slow breath while his lips feathered lightly against my face—“you smell...intoxicating.”
My breath hitched and I lost myself in a state of euphoria. My heart raced so fast I could hear it pounding against my chest. Then he walked out of the cafeteria, leaving me baffled. How had that happened? I was the one who was supposed to walk out. It was too hot in there. When cool air replaced his warmth, I took a moment to gather myself.
I raised my hand to let my brother know I was fine. He had already risen, ready to come to my aid. Apparently, my brother wasn’t the only one noticing Eli and me. Everyone at our table stared at me, especially Abel.
Apparently, Eli wasn’t evil, at least so far. Why would he warn me? Was his warning even sincere? To top that, I wondered what intoxicating smelled like. I hated that I smiled at the thought.
Chapter 9
“It’s nice to finally meet you, Lucia,” Jack’s grandmother greeted me, opening the front door.
Her long silvery braid down the length of her back caught my attention, and I might have stared a bit too long. Wrinkles on her forehead and at the corners of her eyes when she smiled defined her age. However old she was, she was stunning. I adored her long, pink and purple Hawaiian floral dress.
“It’s nice to meet you too, Mrs. Molay.” I smiled, extending my arm to give her a bouquet of flowers—a mixture of red roses and orchids. I had texted Uncle Davin earlier to get him to buy them for her. “They’re from all of us. Uncle Davin and my brother couldn’t make it. They apologized and hoped they could take a rain check.”
It wasn’t that they hadn’t wanted to go. Zach and Uncle Davin needed to scout the island, especially since demon activity had occurred near our house again before I left. Demons liked to venture out at night.
“Thank you. These are beautiful. And it’s not a problem. I’m glad you’re here.” She took the flowers from me. “Call me Grandma, dear, or you can call me Lana. I’m going to put them in a vase. I also need to check on the roast beef. Jack can show you around.” With that, she headed back in.
“Hey, Lucia. Come in.” Jack embraced me and quickly let go.
I stepped onto light wooden floors and the smell of something sweet wafted through my nose. Jack’s house was designed in the same style as ours, except his felt inviting and homey. Family pictures were arranged on the mantel and hung on the walls. Plush sofas, mahogany furniture, and artifacts—vases, knight figurines, stunning swords in a glass case, and other items that I had no idea of their significance—were tastefully arranged about the room. Even the walls were more appealing in a bright yellow, compared to our plain white ones. I especially admired the scented candles lit throughout the house.
“You have a lovely home, Jack,” I complimented, glancing around.
“Thanks. It kind of looks like yours.” He’d surely noticed how plain our house was and had said those words to be nice. Jack was always sweet.
A little boy and a golden retriever appeared from the hallway and cut our conversation short.
“Goose, this is my friend, Lucia. Say hi.” Jack shifted his attention to me. “My brother’s name is Gustavo, but we call him Goose for short. I’ll be right back. I’m going to see if my grandmother needs any help.”
Jack’s brother had light-brown hair and beautiful hazel eyes, just like Jack. He even wore glasses. His white T-shirt read “I fly with angels,” with angel wings expanded around the words. It was different than one you would buy at the store. In fact, it seemed as though he had used a black marker to make it himself because it wasn’t the best printing job. The furry golden dog wagged its tail in welcome, but Goose glared as he examined me from head to toe. I was glad when his expression changed.
“Hi,” he said as if it was torture to say it. He shyly held on to the leash. “This is my dog. Her name is Lucky.”
I bent down to pet Lucky. Stroking her head, I said, “She’s beautiful. Why do you have the leash on her?”
Ignoring my question, he murmured, “Oh good, she likes you.” A slow smile crept over his face. “Just in case she wanted to attack you,” he finally answered.
Was he joking? “Attack me? Why would she attack me?” I scratched the side of Lucky’s ear. She craned her neck and licked the side of my face.
Goose let go of the leash, allowing Lucky more access to my face. Yuck. “Lucky doesn’t like monsters. She barks and attacks them.”
“GOOSE!” Jack screeched, walking back in. Then he chuckled lightly. “Goose has a wild imagination. He’s remembering all the tales my grandfather used to tell us. He pretends they’re real.”
“They are real. I saw them,” Goose insisted, crossing his arms and glaring angrily at Jack.
“Not now, Goose.” Jack scowled. “Don’t scare our guest. Lucia is hungry. Let’s go eat.” Jack guided Goose to the dining table while Lucky followed right behind me, sniffing my butt. Jack pulled out a chair for Goose and then shoved in his seat. Then he pulled out another one for me. The table was already set with plates, utensils, napkins, and glasses filled with water.
“Thanks,” I said, feeling grateful. No one had pulled out a chair for me before. “Do you need any help?” I asked to be polite. I hoped he didn’t, because I didn’t know how to function in the kitchen, let alone how to use all the appliances. I knew I would look incompetent if I tried.
“You’re our guest. This time I take care of you,” Jack said sweetly. “I’ll be right back.”
I took the opportunity to talk to Goose. Hearing him talk about demons had caught my attention. “So, Goose, have you encountered any monsters before, or do you know about them from your grandfather’s stories?”
“I saw them last night,” he stated as if it were no big deal.
“Last night?”
Goose pointed to my house. “I saw them on your roof.”
I froze at his statement. He could see them? Did Jack see them as well? Humans couldn’t see them unless they were—I had to investigate further. I was about to ask him more questions when Grandma and Jack walked in.
“My grandmother’s specialty.” Jack set the platter on the table. Corn on the cob, green beans, carrots, and potatoes surrounded a huge slab of cooked beef.
Goose’s mouth salivated, and so did Lucky’s. Lucky was very lucky; she got her own bowl. My mouth would be watering as well if I were human, but I needed to be polite. Watching Lucky chow down on her food, I knew it was tasty. “That looks delic
ious.”
Grandma took a seat. “Jack wanted me to cook his favorite meal. He was very excited you agreed to come. Too bad Jack’s mother isn’t here to meet you. She works nights at the hospital. I don’t like her hours, but there’s nothing I can do about it. Maybe next time. You’re pretty and well-mannered, just as Jack described.”
“Grandma,” Jack squealed.
Jack’s grandmother ignored his plea. Poor Jack. His face turned bright red and he couldn’t look at me. “Jack told me you’re new here. Let me give you some advice.” Lana leaned in closer and her eyes set on mine with intensity. “Don’t go out alone at night. In fact, don’t go out when there’s a blue moon, like tonight.” She took a moment to pause. “Now, please enjoy your meal.”
Seeing them scoop a portion with a large spoon and place it on their plates, I did the same. We had been taught about human table manners during our training, but somehow I remembered none of it, especially after my second warning not to go out in that night’s blue moon—first from Eli, then Lana. Perhaps Eli hadn’t been joking after all and he was honestly concerned about me. And Lana wasn’t just a crazy old grandmother and could sense the supernatural. I needed to draw out more information from her.
I took a bite of the meat. “Everything tastes perfect, Lana,” I said.
“It was Jack’s father’s favorite too. My son...” She looked off into the distance. “He didn’t deserve...I mean, it was an unfortunate accident.”
Recalling Jack saying his father passed away when he was about eleven years old, I thought of asking Lana about it, but decided to wait and console her instead. “I’m sorry about your son,” I said somberly. “Jack told me about him.”