Divinity: The Gathering: Book One

by Susan Reid

  I hoped that my position as a police officer would allow her to feel comfortable enough to reveal a portion of the truth though. That was the other main reason I had chosen this image of an authority figure. I figured it would also allow access to be on the University campus if I needed to be and for her to trust me easier.

  “Um, where are your restrooms?” She then asked.

  “Oh, straight through those doors,” Rahab pointed to the other end of the trailer, and he smiled again.

  “Thanks,” She said as she turned and made her way towards the doors that were marked simply: ‘Toilets’.

  It was probably an afterthought, and Rahab didn’t think of possibly separating the two and designating male and female signs for each door.

  She turned back to face us with a perplexed look for a moment, and pointed at the sign, “Is it just one for both?” She asked with a raised brow.

  “Uh, oh yes…for now.” Rahab laughed off.

  “Oh, okay.” She said as she walked carefully, still hobbling across the diner, opened the door and disappeared behind it.

  I raised a brow, and shook my head in humor at Rahab as he shrugged sheepishly.

  I sat at the counter, and we both waited until she disappeared behind the door, and it closed completely before we began to whisper in Angelic.

  “Is it functional?” I asked Rahab, referring to the plumbing.

  He waved a hand, and recited his memorized incantation quickly.

  “It is now.” He grinned.

  Rahab could always keep me in good spirits.

  “She’s beautiful and she has pretty eyes too.” Rahab then commented.

  “I know.” I replied.

  “Her aura is magnificent. I had no idea.” Rahab mentioned.

  “I know and you can bet that’s why all the others are after her too.” I replied.

  I was in awe when I first saw her in her Professor’s office. The aural shimmer of her aura was soft, and almost blinding at first. It was beautiful, just as she was.

  Rahab eyed my uniform, “Good choice. It fits you too, and it’s believable.” Rahab pointed to my uniform with a nod of approval.

  I raised a brow, “Yeah, well . . . thanks.” I replied looking over the shiny buttons, random medals, and the badge pinned to the black uniform. I simply replicated the image of one that I had seen on another officer before on the street.

  “Is the gun real?” Rahab then asked.

  “Of course it is,” I smirked, and he grinned with a nod.

  I looked him over as well. The contrast of the white uniform against his dark chocolate skin was striking. Rahab had outfitted himself to fit his personality to a ‘T’. His head was shiny bald underneath the starched white muffin top chef’s hat, and it matched his chef s shirt, which he had paired with blue and white checkered hanker chief around his neck. The full apron, though slightly messy, appeared tight against the strain of his bulging muscles beneath the material.

  Knowing what he truly looked like beneath the image, and human skin, and seeing him now, despite the fact that he loved to cook, was actually quite comical, but I wouldn’t tell him that. I laughed to myself, making the mental comparison in my own thoughts.

  “You should have summoned me to help.” He then said with an angered expression.

  “I didn’t need help. I just got there a little late. Besides, it looks like you’ve been pretty busy here yourself. A shiny, brand new, sparkling diner­­­ — set out in the middle of the woods all by itself.” I told him with a quick look around the diner once again.

  “Well, all diners start out new at some point.” Rahab explained.

  He obviously didn’t get my meaning or where I was going with it, but that was alright, he did have a point.

  I didn’t want to divulge to Rahab, the task I had been completing for Elohim before arriving back to my dwelling to meet up with him; let alone the conversation between myself and Morning Star.

  He sighed and rubbed his face, “This actually didn’t take me long at all, because I already knew what I wanted to do; it was just a matter of picking an out of the way spot on purpose. So where did you find her? Is she a nurse?” He then asked.

  “There’s a place of health care or something like that for sick and dying people about several miles back, she works there.” I told him.

  “No wonder there were so many shadows over there. Who did it? Was it a void?” He insisted knowing with clenched teeth.

  I nodded, “Yeah, and they were trying to drag her to an open portal near the lake behind the hospice. The stupid ass hit her, and she bled.” I informed him.

  His face turned to surprise, “Hit her? She bled? Oh shit.” Rahab gaped in shock.

  “Shit is an understatement.” I replied.

  “I hope he doesn’t think we’re responsible.” he then wondered.

  I shook my head, “He knows Rahab. Elohim took care of the void in a blink before I could, which I expected, but I still would have loved to rip them all apart myself. There were two others that showed up immediately after the first two, to try and finish the task though. Elohim let me have them.” I replied with satisfaction, and then getting lost in my own brief thoughts.

  Rahab’s mouth tightened into a narrow split, and his dark brown eyes went wide at the mention of that. It was obvious this news angered Rahab, and he seemed to be in his lost in his own thoughts for a moment now too.

  He finally shook his head, “What idiots!” Rahab growled in a whisper.

  “Expendable ones that Morning Star intentionally didn’t clarify the rules to, or they lacked the common sense…I’m willing to guess both.”

  “Me too. When we meet later, I think I may have some information and news on that concert.” Rahab then said.

  I perked up, “Good, alright. I’ll find something temporary somewhere nearby then, I guess.” I replied.

  Rahab nodded, and then leaned on the counter, moving in closer to me as we listened. The faucet was still running in the bathroom, so she wasn’t emerging any time soon.

  “Do you think her death will come sooner now?” He asked genuinely.

  “I don’t know, at least I don’t think it will if I can help it.” I replied.

  Rahab’s eyes widened, “Cam`ael, you know you aren’t supposed to…” He began.

  I smirked, “How long have you known me friend? If Morning Star can do as he pleases, I’m going to do the same, and get as close to breaking the rules as I can to fuck up his plans.” I interjected.

  His brows furrowed for a minute, and then he grinned, “That is why I call you my lord.” He commented.

  “I’m nowhere near worthy of that title, so you shouldn’t use it lightly— especially in regards to me.” I pointed out.

  “Why else are you the only one of our kind that I am aware of, who still retains their former light? It is a gift that makes you worthy of that title, at least to all of us and many others will agree with me on that,” Rahab held up his large hand, and defended as if making a testament to his words.

  I sighed and shook my head.

  Rahab was actually quite sensitive despite his size and looks, most would never guess. In fact, in the spirit realm, his looks depicted the complete opposite of his disposition, which was why many were afraid of him.

  “She’s keeping their attack on her a secret even from me, which is a good thing. I don’t think my being there counted as interference, but I could be wrong.” I said.

  “If she is a divine chosen, how come she can’t see us for what we are?” Rahab asked.

  “She’s still an imperfect human right now, but she can definitely sense us, believe that.” I told him.

  Rahab appeared confused for a moment, as if he was pondering that and then he scratched his forehead, “She’s not afraid? I mean, she doesn’t act like she knows something is…not quite right with us,” Rahab then observed.

  “She’s not sure what to believe. Typical, but she’s suspicious I’m sure of that much. I suppose she’s j
ust being polite,” I told him.

  Rahab nodded agreeing that probably made more sense, “Did she see you destroy them?” Rahab asked.

  “No, at least I don’t think so.” I replied.

  He nodded, “Well, I don’t see why it would not be in your favor. You were helping to protect her, she is a chosen. I will vouch for you no question. It’s bad enough that she bled, but it wasn’t our doing.” He said with a serious expression as he shook his head.

  I pursed my mouth, and gave him a palpable look, “You already know how that goes my friend. Anyway, don’t call me lord anything here…ever— it’s just Cam. Have you seen Drakael around?” I then asked.

  Rahab instantly scowled at the mention of his name, “No, and he’d better hope I don’t. Are you going tell her what we are?” He inquired.

  “I can’t, we aren’t allowed to. Just watch what you do and say around her and squash any beef you have with Drakael for now. It’s a good thing you masked your brandings,” I warned, finally noticing his bare forearms.

  I took off my jacket, and eased onto a barstool at the long counter.

  He grunted, and then nodded, “I figured it’d be too complicated to explain. Did you hide yours?” He then asked.

  I grinned, “I hadn’t planned on it.”

  Rahab’s eyes widened, “She’ll be able to see them, do you think?” He asked.

  “We’ll find out,” I replied as I took off the black leather gloves, unbuttoned the shirt cuffs, and then rolled the sleeves up my forearms.

  “Sneaky, sneaky,” Rahab chuckled, shaking his head.

  “No rule against that is there?” I gave a sly smirk.

  Rahab shook his head with a shrug.

  “Don’t think so. I’ve been cooking for hours. Whatever she wants, I’ll make. I have a variety of things to use. I had to acquire a strawberry pie though from a local bakery place. I haven’t mastered baking yet.” He said.

  I smiled, “I appreciate that. I’ll take a slice, and some of whatever you have in that over there,” I pointed to the large, silver, cylinder shaped container behind the counter.

  “It’s coffee,” Rahab said matter-of-factly, as if I should have known that.

  “Real coffee?” I asked with raised brows.

  “I created, ground and brewed it fresh myself a few moments ago when you said you were on your way. It’s real. Everything else I got is fresh too.” Rahab pursed his lips.

  The restroom door opened again just as we ceased our conversation, and Rahab and I turned to watch her as she made her way back over to us slowly, and eased back onto the barstool beside me. She had combed her hair, and pulled her gorgeous spiral curls back into a pony tail. It looked as if she had washed her face as well. It was brighter, and she seemed more awake and perkier, though a hint of faint dark circles still remained beneath her eyes.

  Just as I predicted, her eyes immediately zoned in on the tattoos along my forearms, wrists and palms.

  She did see them. I already had a feeling she would be able to, since she could see my signature even when cloaked, and she could sense my energy.

  First, her beautiful sapphire eyes held surprise, then curiosity, and finally admiration. I was sure she didn’t want to seem rude when she turned away, reached for a paper menu, and began to scan the selections. I could tell she was still staring at my forearms from her periphery, as if she were debating on asking me about them.

  I knew she wanted to.

  The texture of her skin was smooth and even; the color of soft, lightly sun-kissed, honey beige. Her eyes were even more of a vivid dark navy blue underneath her long, thick dark brown lashes, and her lips were full and naturally pink; like the color of the inside of a ruby grapefruit. She had a cute button nose, and I wanted so badly to stroke her soft cheek and her delicate lips.

  I wasn’t so much simply marveling at her beauty, but trying to analyze or find the very reasons why her aura was so much stronger than other chosen. Surely, there had to be some tale-tell things that would give way, as to why Morning Star wanted her so badly too.

  Rahab nudged me hard, snapping me out of my gaze after he had finished pouring my coffee. He then slid the steaming aromatic cup in front of me, and moved over to carefully cut a perfect slice from the pie that was sitting inside a glass display stand. He set it on a small plate, putting a fork on the side, and then placed it in front me. I was grateful for his reminder, since I didn’t want her to look over to find me ogling her.

  “I think, I’ll just have a cheeseburger with everything, and the tater tots— oh and a coke,” She said to Rahab, closing the menu, and setting it back neatly where it had been.

  “Coming right up,” Rahab smiled enthusiastically, bowing his head and backing up through the swinging doors leading into the kitchen. He had to duck his head to fit, just as he had done when he came out of it.

  We were left alone for the moment, and I covertly heated the plate by touch to warm the pie, immediately inhaling the sweet scent of warm strawberries that made my mouth water.

  Her brow quirked at the sudden aroma of the warm pie that had apparently reached her, and she looked down at my plate, and then up at me.

  “Wow, I can really smell it now, and it looks good too. I haven’t had a really good pie in a while.” She commented looking at my slice.

  “Here,” I said sliding my plate over to her.

  She held up a hand to stop me, “No, you eat it. If I have room I may just get a slice too. I love strawberries.” She smiled.

  I nodded, pulling the plate back in front of me.

  “Me too,” I smiled with quaint surprise, “So where does the name Star come from? I’m just curious.” I then asked her after a brief bout of silence, where she took the opportunity to look around and admire the jukebox.

  I already knew her full name.

  She turned back to face me, and seemed to hesitate. She shifted slightly on the barstool, and she sighed in thought for a moment, “Um, it’s short for Starling,” She said passively.

  I smiled, “Starling? That’s beautiful, I like that.” I told her sincerely.

  “Yeah it’s cute.” She said nonchalantly.

  “You don’t like it?” I asked.

  “Not really. I mean I do but my parents and my grandmother were the only ones who ever called me that, and anyway they’re all deceased.” She said drawing the obvious emotions that statement brought on back into herself, and flashing me a quick smile.

  “There’s a lot of meaning in names. Starling has many meanings where I’m from. Star describes first chosen of the light, one who is special, unique and highly favored. I think both variations fit you,” I told her.

  She seemed a bit surprised and speechless at my compliment at first as she glanced up at me and smiled. I hoped she didn’t take it as me coming on too strongly.

  “And where are you from?” She asked softly.

  The very moment that our eyes locked, I was lost in hers, trying to delve deeper into her thoughts, her weaknesses, her ideas, and her emotions. They were all a complete mystery to me.

  The power of her gaze was about as penetrating as my own, and I revered how her dark sapphire colored eyes sparkled with an innocent wisdom and curiosity. I wondered what she was seeing in mine, and what she was thinking this very moment as well.

  I smirked, “The old world,” I finally joked, looking down at my pie and cutting into it with my fork. I had to do something in order to break my underlying urges from continuing to manifest within me.

  She nodded, “I thought something like that. I mean you open doors for me or is that just a cop thing?” She smiled.

  “No, it isn’t just a cop thing.” I chuckled because I found her comment humorous, and was relieved that she apparently had a different predisposed idea of what I had meant by that.

  Her beautiful smile grew even brighter at that moment, despite the nasty bruising and cut that marred her lip. There was another momentary silence.

  Then she cleared her throat,
and her demeanor changed to a more of a cheery one to match her smile. I wondered what she was thinking about just now.

  “So were you two like college buddies or something, basketball or football all-stars by any chance?” She smirked, and asked me as she leaned forward on the counter with her arms folded in front of her.

  I laughed. Stereotyping was she?

  “No, not athletes, but we are long time good friends.” I told her with a smile.

  She nodded as her eyes casually traveled down to my forearms, with renewed curiosity once again. She was dying to ask me about my brandings since she first saw them, just as I had hoped she would.

  The intricate ones along my forearms and wrists were where my weapons were marked, and from where they were wielded. Something she’d come to know and understand in the spirit realm once she became a full divine warrior.

  She gave a nod to my forearms, studying them in awe, “I didn’t know they allowed those kinds of tattoos, being a police officer.” She commented.

  I paused for a moment.

  That wasn’t the initial question I had expected from her.

  “They don’t, not usually, but in my case they made an exception,” I tried to search for a lie.

  Her brows furrowed.

  “Really? Well, what are they? I mean usually there’s something prophetic or poetic in tattoos. I’ve never seen ones like yours before though. They almost look, tribal,” She said, studying them with more interest now.

  They weren’t actually tattoos, even though they resembled them. We all had some sort of branding in the form of weapons and magic, or both. They were branded into the flesh, to become one with the being, and all you had to do was simply will them in order to wield them. I had received mine as an Angel, but the marks and lines had instantly morphed into a dark, brick red color once I fell, and my bonded weapon became cursed along with me.

  “They are, sort of. They’re actually symbols that stand for all things infinite, just, resolute and undefeatable.” I explained to her, which wasn’t far from the truth.

  “That one looks almost like the shape of a sword,” She pointed to the drawn lines that marked the inside of my right forearm; running its length to my palm, and pointing towards the crook of my elbow.