Divinity: The Gathering: Book One

by Susan Reid

  “Oh, thank — show did… I didn’t even know it was gone,” She finally said with a confused and quizzical glance up at me.

  “You’re welcome.” I flashed a dazzling smile that made her blush instantly.

  “Oh, this is Drake. Drake, this is Officer Cam Black. He’s the one who helped me last night,” She then introduced.

  She was still dazzled by my smile, and temporarily forgot that he was even at the table.

  I gave a half smirk, knowing Drakael was eyeing me in regard to that observation. Drakael then looked at me curiously, and cocked his head to mask his annoyance of me, almost the same way that I was disregarding him.

  I saw her eyes dart from him to me for a moment, as she pondered something in slight confusion, I could tell by her expression.

  “You did? Well, that was very generous of you Officer Black.” Drakael then said in a patronizing and sarcastic manner.

  “Yeah, I thought so too, Drake.” I said, dripping his name with venom on purpose.

  “Do…you two know each other?” Star then asked.

  There was a brief silence as we stared each other down for a moment.

  “No,” I finally said, a little too quickly.

  Drakael said nothing of course, and he didn’t even look up at me as he sipped his tea. He couldn’t lie so he just remained silent.

  She looked at the both of us for another moment, puzzled as if she wasn’t sure she believed me, but chose not to say anything else about it.

  “How are you doing?” I then asked her.

  She smiled and brushed a spiral curl away from her face and then proceeded to place her license back into her wallet, “Better, I think a good night’s sleep is part of what I really needed and I finally got it.” She said.

  She looked so beautiful with her hair down. It was long, hanging down to her mid-back in long half wavy, half spiral curls that were full, shiny, and both brown and light brown in color, with pale blonde highlights hidden in between the strands.

  She did look a hundred percent better, even her energy, mood and happiness were apparent. Her navy blue eyes sparkled like moonlight dancing on the ocean. I could sit and admire her all day and night long, though I hated that her complete change in appearance and mood was more than likely attributed to her being in the presence of Drakael.

  “Your face looks a lot better today…that’s amazing.” I then noted with a quick cut of my eyes towards Drakael, and in awe of how her natural skin-tone, and the color of her kissable lips had returned to their normal gorgeous ruby red shade.

  Drakael didn’t seem bothered by my accusatory glare, and his expression remained impassive as he continued to sip on his tea.

  “I know, it’s miraculous, and I’m definitely not complaining or ungrateful.” She then said.

  I nodded and smiled.

  “Did you manage to find out about your car?” I then asked already knowing that there had been nothing wrong with it.

  “I did, you know funny thing — it was fine. It started right up and the tow truck driver was even nice enough to not charge for coming out too.” She said.

  “Really? How odd,” Drakael noted, cutting his eyes at me this time.

  “Good, that’s great. It looks like the odds are in your favor today,” I said seeing Drakael eye me out of my periphery.

  I would have done more too if I had known he was allowed to heal her.

  “Well, I don’t want to interrupt. I’m just picking up something to go.” I then said.

  Drakael only smiled and nodded his agreement to my statement, and it was then that I could see something else in his eyes.

  It was a look that I had seen before and knew well, and it instantly alarmed me.

  “Well, would you like to join us? I mean if you don’t mind Drake?” she asked me and then beamed at him.

  I held up a hand to wave off, and was almost about to decline when I saw Drakael hesitate in thought before he shifted in the booth and pulled out some money.

  “I really need to be going anyway. I really enjoyed lunch Star,” He smiled at her and pretended to check the time on his gold watch, as if he were even aware of time.

  I knew it wasn’t a complete untruth but I didn’t care. I was elated, as I stepped back to let him through once he stood.

  “Oh, well do you need a ride somewhere?” she then offered.

  “No, I’ll walk. My destination isn’t far from here.” Drakael smiled at her.

  I only looked at him with pursed lips.

  “Well I really enjoyed lunch too. Um…do you frequent the church often?” Star asked him.

  “I frequent many places nearby so I’m sure we’ll run into each other again soon. You take care of yourself.” He smiled.

  “You too, I will.” She smiled back.

  Drakael moved past me with a quick glance and a look on his face that conveyed a quick message of talking to me later.

  “You sure you don’t mind my company?” I raised a brow.

  “Mind? Of course not,” She smiled at me.

  Thank goodness the booths were oversized. I knew my knees would probably lift the table from underneath if it didn’t allow more room. I sat and eased into the booth, having to shift the table forward slightly, and she helped to move it more towards her too. I slid Drakeal’s nearly empty cup of tea and his twenty dollar bill towards the edge of the table just as the young waiter approached our table with a menu for me.

  I noticed that Star had a half-eaten slice of strawberry pie, still laced with ribbons of cool whip in between, and a steaming cup of coffee in front of her.

  That made me smile when I looked across the table at her. I didn’t mean to stare at her again and seem strange, though I hoped at this point she’d be a bit more relaxed with me given the circumstances of last night.

  She eyed my tattoos in fascination again, as I pushed the sleeves of the fitted cotton shirt I wore up my forearms. Her gaze began slowly traveling up to my biceps, where our eyes met, and for some reason she instantly blushed and looked back down, picking at her pie again with her fork. I couldn’t help but grin to myself internally, knowing full well what she was admiring.

  “Blue plate special is roast beef aus jus, green bean salad and fried baby potatoes. What can I get you to drink?” He asked me.

  “Just water and the same thing she’s having now.” I told him with a nod to Star’s plate of strawberry pie; just so he’d leave, and he did promptly with a nod.

  I wasn’t hungry, but I’d order something just to be able to spend as much time with her as I could.

  “You know, I could swear that you two knew each other, but maybe that’s just me.” She said as she playfully eyed me —meaning to make a joke of it.

  I laughed it off, “Is he a good friend of yours?” I asked.

  “I actually just met him at the church a few blocks over.” She replied.

  “I see. You make a habit of picking up strange men and asking them to lunch?” I joked with a smirk.

  She returned the smirk.

  “No, just a twist of fate I guess. We were both there, and we got to talking about some things. I can read people pretty well. He’s a really nice, wise and friendly. I — can read you too.” She then told me on the sly in a soft tone, and then she bit her bottom lip with a half-smile when she looked at me.

  I raised both brows and nodded as I sat back and returned the playful smirk, “Oh really? And what do I convey to you?” I asked, really wanting to know, given her reaction to me in the cruiser.

  I could hear her heart beat speed up at that, with building desire that began to permeate the air between us on both our parts. What she claimed made me nervous, because if she could see the shadows that clearly, then it was only a matter of time before she would eventually see me for what I really was.

  She studied me for a moment with scrutiny, one beautiful eye, squinting in examination, which I knew she was doing purposefully to be playful.

  I noted that she had actually licked her lip
s several times since we had been talking.

  “Well, for starters I can tell that you’re the protective type given what you do for a living, and though you are a public servant…there’s something about you that almost seems—mysterious, electric and dark,” She then said.

  I held my breath when she said that.

  “Dark?” I played innocent anyway.

  She laughed a bit, “Yeah, I mean I know you’re a cop but…” She trailed off.

  Our eyes met and held again for a moment.

  She was studying me again, and this time I was afraid that she was seeing something of darkness in me now.

  I laughed a bit this time.

  “But what? Now you’re stereotyping my tattoos huh?” I joked and urged her to go on, wanting to know what was on her mind and what she thought about me.

  I loved the sound of her laughter, but she shook her head no as if she didn’t want to say.

  “It isn’t the tattoos. I actually think they’re cool…different.” She smiled.

  I smiled, “No? Then what is it?” I was playing along with her now.

  “I didn’t mean dark in a negative or bad way, I don’t know.” She said with a slight shrug.

  I was beginning to feel as if she did know, and I hated how she felt as if she couldn’t tell me things. I do know that I really wanted to pick up the conversation from yesterday, but I didn’t want to bring it up just yet.

  “Ah, well I guess you’re the first to tell me that then,” I replied just as the waiter brought my water and slice of strawberry pie.

  “Really? Most girls like the bad boy, mysterious tall, dark stranger type. You mean your girlfriend or wife has never mentioned it?” She asked in a flirtatious, expectant way, given the way she looked at me.

  I smiled, “Maybe she would have if I had one of either of those.” I replied.

  She raised a brow as if she didn’t believe me.

  “What about you?” I then smirked.

  “What about me?” She played naïve. She was definitely flirting now and I really liked that.

  “Do you like mysterious bad boy types?” I then asked.

  She smiled shyly and looked away for a moment, nearly turning lobster red.

  “I’d be lying if I said no.” She answered.

  I gave her my famous flirty smirk and half smile, and I heard her heartbeat speed up in response.

  “So is your boyfriend also a bad boy?” I asked on purpose to verify if she and that guy Joel were possibly more than friends.

  She shook her head with a grin.

  “No boyfriend.” She said taking a sip of her coffee.

  “I don’t believe that.” I replied.

  “I don’t really have the time for one. I mean, when I see my other friends and the issues they have with their guys, it all seems so unnecessary and exhausting. I’d much rather just stay friends.” She went on to explain.

  I nodded and then smiled, “ I don’t know, it sounds more exhausting to keep turning down guy after guy and having to come up with a new excuse every time.” I replied.

  She giggled and smiled big this time.

  I loved her smile, how her eyes sparkled so vividly blue with so much light, that it literally drew you in. Once she was changed over, she’d be able to best me easily, because she was definitely going to be my biggest weakness.

  “No need for new excuses.” She shrugged.

  “I sincerely don’t believe that at all.” I told her.

  “That’s the truth. Anyway, you look like you’re either off duty or undercover.” She then commented to cleverly dodge and change the subject.

  “Off duty,” I confirmed.

  “Cool, so what kinds of things do you do in your spare time?” She then asked.

  I pursed my lips and shook my head with a shrug.

  “Errands and I like to read.”

  “You read?” She seemed surprised.

  I laughed a bit, “Why does that sound incredulous?” I smirked.

  She smiled, “It’s not incredulous. It’s just that most guys that I know don’t really read much, at least not for leisure. But for me personally, I find a guy who reads, and can cook…extremely sexy.” She specified.

  I inhaled. Her body heat and scent was becoming intoxicating, desire was rising from of her skin in waves that kept washing over me, making it insatiably hard to quell my lust for her. Her innocent facial expression hid her desire well though. She was a tough one.

  “I’ll keep those things in mind.” I smiled again.

  “I heard from a birdie, that you’re working the campus too. I thought the University specifically had campus police for that. Aren’t you metropolitan?” She then asked.

  “I… had a choice, it’s part-time.” I lied hoping she wouldn’t check on that.

  “Recent? Because, I’ve never seen you around campus before.” She then added.

  “Very.” I told her.

  “Oh.” She simply said as she picked at her pie again, and then looked at me.

  I hadn’t touched my pie yet, and it was silent for a moment.

  “I see you really like strawberry pie. I was craving it since I saw you order some last night.” She commented.

  I laughed a little, “How was theirs?” I asked with a nod to her plate.

  “It’s good. Not as good as your friend Ray’s though. He’s a really nice guy and a great cook.” She smiled.

  I didn’t bother to mention that that pie had been store bought, it didn’t matter.

  “He’ll be thrilled to know you said that,” I confirmed making sure to pass that information onto Rahab. He thrived on compliments, especially from women.

  It was then that her face went serious for a moment as if she were contemplating something while gazing at her half eaten pie.

  I wanted to ask her what was wrong, but I remained silent. Her heart beat was speeding up again, but it wasn’t just desire anymore. She was nervous.

  She hesitated, licking her full lips as she sucked in a soft breath, and glanced back up at me.

  “Last night…you said you had an open mind about things, and that nothing would surprise or shock you, right?” She began.

  She was opening up to me so I gave her my undivided attention, but with my own slight nervous apprehension.

  “Right,” I nodded, leaning forward on folded arms with my elbows on the table.

  She paused again, folding her napkin into an origami shape that turned out to be a sailboat.

  She sighed before pushing her plate aside, and leaning forward on her own elbows too.

  “This will probably sound crazy I know, but —I didn’t run into a door.” She began while staring down at the table.

  “I know.” I said.

  Her eyes flicked back up to mine in surprise, and when she saw that I had meant what I said, she seemed more relaxed and inclined to go on.

  “No one hit me either,” She then said, awaiting my next reaction.

  I nodded for her to go on.

  “It’s a little hard to explain in a way that even sounds believable.” She said as her brows furrowed.

  “Well, let me be the judge first.” I urged her on.

  She paused to gather her thoughts I presumed.

  “Do you believe in…demons?” She finally asked.

  I don’t know why I flinched on the inside at the mention of that term coming from her lips, but I did.

  “Yes.” I told her flatly.

  Her eyes lit up and she seemed relieved.

  “Really? Like the dark, evil shadow people that create and cause negative bad things to happen and stuff too?” She then went on.

  I bit my lip and abruptly spoke, “I know what you’re talking about.” I replied, not meaning to sound brash or rude.

  I felt that she would slowly begin to actually start seeing me for what I was the more she kept going.

  She breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Well, I’ve seen them for most of my life and recently…I’ve been having
a lot of prophetic dreams that I think are connected with these demons for some reason. I think they’re either trying to hurt or kill me.” She then said in a low tone.

  I studied her mouth, and the completely healed bruising where her injury had been for a moment.

  “You’re saying that a demon hit you?” I asked her just to have her admit to it finally.

  She sighed, “I know it sounds…”

  “No, it doesn’t sound crazy. I believe you.” I stopped her.

  She looked at me in surprise.

  “Tell me about them, your dreams.” I then asked her.

  She licked her delicious lips as if hesitant again, and I hoped that I hadn’t pushed too aggressively too soon, or sounded like an overbearing psychologist or something.

  She thought for a moment, “Well, they’re all pretty hardcore and vivid. They’re repetitive, like following the same theme each time, which is the end of the world, and there’s so much chaos, death and destruction going on —it all seems so real. I keep seeing a lot of angels, dark angels that look evil, and they’re looking for, or hunting me in particular. They call me by my full name too, which scares me because it means they know me. They know who I am as a person, and that terrifies me, because I don’t understand or know why they want me. And though they’re either trying to hurt, kill, or make me go crazy —I think they’re afraid of me too. Does any of this make sense?” She asked. I could tell she didn’t want to risk me thinking she was insane, and I didn’t in the least.

  In fact, I was livid.

  Her eyes became glassy, and she blinked as if she were trying to stave off tears of relief, but then seeming embarrassed for having admitted it all to me or something.

  “Why do you think they want to kill you?” I asked her.

  She shook her head, “My professors office was the first incident, and then last night of course. You saw what they did to me. I don’t know anymore. I mean, I wasn’t afraid of them at first but now…I don’t know how to defend myself, and I’m paranoid. I don’t know if who I see is actually who they are anymore. Seeing what they can do, I’m afraid that they may try to get to me through my friends or something next.” She shook her head and shivered as if she were thinking about that possibility right now. I waited for her to go on, seeing as she seemed to be in deep thought.