The phone in Reed’s pocket begins ringing. When he answers it, it is Zephyr indicating they have reached the point where they had planned to get gas for the cars. We pull into a gas station with an attached mini mart. I park the car next to a pump and see Buns and Zephyr get out of their car and walk over near our car, surveying the scenery around us. Leaning over the center console of the car, Reed kisses me, his lips touching mine like a whisper before he gets out of the car to fill the gas tank. I open my door, stepping out to stretch my legs.
“Sweetie, let’s go in and get some snacks.” Buns says, linking arms with me. “I’m in the mood for licorice, what about you?” she asks as we walk together a few feet.
Through the windows of the mini mart, the fluorescent lights flicker eerily, illuminating the aisles of snacks lining the interior. I stop in my tracks and pull hard against Buns’s arm, trying to get her to release me. Panic grips me as cold sweat breaks out all over my body.
“No…let go of me!” I whisper feebly, feeling Buns release me instantly. Panic makes my whole body shake as I back away from the doors in front of me.
“Sweetie, what’s wrong?” I vaguely hear Buns ask me, but my eyes are riveted on the doors ahead of me. At any moment they will swing open and I will be assailed by that vile odor; the one that makes me puke—and Gaspard will be inside waiting for me.
I can’t think rationally, as I turn and run from the gas station. I sprint as fast as my legs will carry me, with no thought as to where I’m going or who will observe me. I cross the street, narrowly avoiding a logging semi packed full of huge fir trees. The driver probably never saw me in the road, since I’m nearly invisible to him at the speed I’m traveling. I rush into the forest on the other side of the street. I ascend a steep hill, maneuvering between the trees so nimbly that not one branch strikes me as I dart between them. Vaulting over large rocks, I keep going, never stumbling, never tiring of the pace that I have set, but continuing as if I will never stop.
Distantly, I hear my name being called. I keep going, farther and faster. The deep drifts of snow are no problem. I pump my legs harder, passing through them with ease. Climbing the rocks ahead of me, I jump from ledge to ledge, never wavering in my conviction that my foot will land solidly exactly where I want it to land on the precarious terrain. Again, I hear my name from somewhere further behind me. I pause on a rocky ledge.
Where are you running? my mind whispers. Away from the Seven-Eleven…to Reed, my heart whispers back. I still. I can’t run away from it. It already happened. I had gone into the store with Alfred and I had changed Russell’s life forever—for eternity—and ended my uncle’s life. I did that and I cannot undo it, I think as something brutal twists inside of me. I hear my name being called again, this time closer. I turn knowing Reed is approaching.
Reed bursts through the trees with an alarmed expression on his face. He stops when he sees me standing just above him on a rocky ledge. I probably look wild because my jacket had torn apart and was left on the trail below me when my wings had sprouted. I still have on the light sweater that Buns had modified for me. It didn’t shred when my wings thrust out because the Velcro flap in the back just pulls away.
“Evie, where are you going?” Reed asks me in a gentle tone, approaching me with caution.
I look around me at the trees and snow because I don’t know how to tell him. “I was…running from the Seven-Eleven…looking for you.”
Reed is confused, and then I see him put it together. I hadn’t tried to run from Alfred once I knew he held Russell hostage and would kill; I had cooperated. Staring at me intensely, Reed’s jaw clenches as he strides the last few steps to me, pulling me into his arms. Reed digs in his pocket for his phone, depressing the speed dial button.
“I have her—she is okay—we will be back shortly. Wait for us by the road.” He closes the phone. Picking me up off of my feet, he carries me down the side of the steep hill we had just climbed, as if we are walking on a flat, sandy beach somewhere. I am quiet all the way back to the car, feeling several emotions all at once. Just before we leave the cover of the trees, Reed shrugs off his coat and drapes it over my shoulders to hide my wings from sight. Zephyr had moved our car to the shoulder of the road where it’s dark. Approaching the car, Reed places me in the passenger side. Zephyr is at his side instantly while Buns comes to my window.
“Sweetie—I didn’t realize—it was stupid of me to think you would want to go in there,” she says contritely, as she touches my arm through the open window.
“Buns, I don’t really understand what just happened, but it’s not your fault I freaked. I panicked and I had to…” I try to explain, but can’t.
“I went in the store after we heard you were all right and I got you some water and just about one of everything,” she says with a nervous smile, indicating the huge bag of snacks on the back seat of the car.
A real smile creeps across my face when I turn back to see the mountain of treats falling out of the bag. “Buns, I don’t deserve you,” I say.
“Are you kidding? Brownie will never forgive me if I let something happen to our girl,” she says, reaching in the window to give me a brief hug. “Are you ready to get back on the road now?”
“Yes. I’ll see you at the resort,” I say, and watch as she goes to the black Range Rover parked just ahead of us.
Zephyr approaches my window. Smiling, he asks, “Enjoy your run?”
Raising my chin a notch, I reply, “Yes, it was refreshing.” Zephyr grins, before leaning in my window and kissing me on the forehead. “Yes, I’ll never be bored again with you around,” he says, chuckling as he walks back to his car.
I put my window back up as Reed climbs in the car. He sits in the driver’s seat for a second, staring at my face. I try to hide my ragged emotions as I say, “I think we’re going to have to come up with some kind of signal from now on to indicate that I’m sorry for my actions because just saying, ‘I’m sorry’ is getting redundant. I don’t know how you can buy it anymore. Or, maybe you can teach me the words in Angel. Everything sounds so much better in your language.”
“There are no words that mean, ‘I’m sorry’ in Angel,” Reed replies and I have to fight back tears when I hear that little nugget of information. Of course, what would a perfect being be sorry for? I think sadly.
“And I couldn’t be more pleased that you were looking for me,” he says, keeping his eyes on me. “I don’t require an apology from you—ever. You always follow your heart, even when it’s in direct opposition to logic and your heart was telling you to find me—to make a different choice than the one you made before.”
He starts the car and we follow Zephyr onto the road. “Can I ask you something?” Reed asks. I nod, still not trusting myself to speak. “What do you think would’ve happened if you’d gotten away—if you hadn’t gone along with Alfred’s plan to give up your soul for Russell and not gone into the store with him?” he asks me. I shrug and look out the passenger side window because I don’t want him to see the tears in my eyes.
“How would things have been different?” he asks me relentlessly.
“You might have been able to stop Alfred,” I say in a small voice.
“No,” he says forcefully. “If you had made it to my home instead, the only difference would have been that you would have remained safe and Russell would be dead. Alfred would have killed Russell immediately, and then he would have left directly to slaughter your uncle. He would have gone to your uncle’s home to seek revenge for your disobedience. We would not have known until it was too late. He would not have waited around for me to kill him, if you had evaded him.”
“Sometimes I think that a person could die of regret,” I whisper.
“What have you to regret?” Reed asks me, probing my response.
“If it weren’t for me, Russell would be in Paradise right now, not being protected because I made him a hunted freak,” I reply bitterly.
“You helped make him a highly evol
ved being. You made him Seraphim, the highest form of angel in Paradise, and he still gets to be your soul mate. He couldn’t be more elite,” Reed says, shaking his head. “Russell should kiss your feet for the upgrade.”
“Yeah, it’s such a great lifestyle, running from demons and angels, we’re elite all right,” I scoff.
“We will figure something out so that it won’t always be this way. Zephyr and I have some ideas about getting the word out about you in my community without exposing you to danger,” he says.
“Planning a PR junket?” I ask flippantly.
“Maybe,” Reed says, giving me a sexy look. “Can I ask you something else?”
“Of course, I have no secrets from you,” I reply, wondering what he would ask me.
His smile deepens at that. “What made you stop running tonight, in the woods?”
“I realized I was running to you and that you were behind me, not out there somewhere,” I reply.
“You weren’t tired or fatigued?” he asks.
“No, not at all,” I say, and watch him grin. “Why?”
“Because I couldn’t catch you, you were too fast for me,” he replies.
“Really?” I ask him because he has to be joking. He’s a Power. He’s built for speed, strength, endurance…raw power. “NO WAY!” I say, my jaw hanging open.
“I was going to have to fly to look for you because you had me on foot,” he grins. “I followed your footprints and I couldn’t believe how far you leapt on the rocks, and your footing—you never slipped or hesitated—it was impressive, and now that I know you are all right— hot. Zee said you were really fast, that day he chased you, but I didn’t realize just how fast.”
“Really… huh? That’s very interesting,” I reply, studying him.
“That is your secret weapon, Evie. If you come across an enemy, you run as far and as fast as you can, don’t look back just go. We will make sure you always have a cell phone on you. When it’s safe, I can call you, or you can contact me and we’ll meet up.” Reed says with authority.
“So, I’m supposed to run away—like a coward?” I ask, offended by this new plan.
“Evie, there is a difference between evasion and cowardice,” Reed says calmly.
“Yeah, one means avoidance and the other means spinelessness and neither one appeals to me,” I reply.
Reed counters, “How about obedience, how does that appeal to you?”
“Submission—hmm—not so much,” I reply stubbornly.
“Respect, not submission,” he says in a rational tone. “Deference that I know what I’m talking about where strategy is concerned.”
“I do respect you, you know that.” I say, wondering why we are arguing about tactics.
“Then, you’ll follow my orders,” he says placidly.
“What will you be doing, while I’m running away?” I ask in a dark tone.
“What I’m made to do. I can handle angels. What I can’t handle, is living without you, so we have to find a way to keep you safe,” he says.
“Why is my safety more important than yours?” I ask, testing his resolve for this new strategy.
“What do you hope to accomplish against a fully evolved Power, Evie?” Reed asks me pointedly. “You would be more of a liability for me in a fight, than you would be an asset. The moment a Power angel realizes how vital you are to me, then we’ll have some serious problems.”
“I’m a liability,” I say in a small voice, studying my hands so I won’t have to look at him. “I guess I would be, wouldn’t I?”
Reed groans when he sees that he has hurt my feelings by calling me a liability. “Only for now. You will be very powerful one day, if you keep evolving the way that you are and I will have to eat my words.”
“Do you promise to choke on them, just a little bit, when that day comes?” I ask, a little salty because I know he’s right. But it still reeks like I’ll be selling him out if I make a break for it while he stays behind to fight for his life.
“I promise,” he says, taking one of my hands and pulling it to his lips. He kisses my palm. I have to bite my lip from the sensual caress.
“Do you promise to listen to me, if I tell you to run?” he asks me, kissing my palm again as I squirm in my seat.
“Fine,” I sigh, watching him look at me with his eyes wide, and then a frown pulls his brows down, making his hair slip down over one eyebrow. I hadn’t actually said the words “I promise.” I think he’s catching on to that, so I unbuckle my seatbelt and brush his hair back from his brow. Turning, I rummage through the treat bag in the back seat. “Twinkie?” I question over my shoulder.
“Yes,” he says. I retrieve a twin pack from the bag and find a couple of waters for us. Unwrapping the Twinkies, I hand one to Reed.
“So, you were thinking of ways to tell other angels about me?” I ask conversationally, trying to change the subject to something else.
“Yes,” Reed replies.
“But, you haven’t committed to the idea yet?” I ask.
“No,” he replies.
“Are you worried that once you let that genie out of the bottle, there is no going back?” I ask, chewing my Twinkie thoughtfully.
He looks at me in suspicion, “Evie, you’re dangerously sharp.”
“Well, look at the bright side, we have a new weapon in our arsenal—evasion,” I say, enunciating the last word as if it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. My smile brightens, however, when I hear Reed laughing as if I had made the funniest joke he has ever heard.
CHAPTER 3
The Resort
The resort that Buns has chosen is magical, or at least it is to me. The angels are not very impressed by it, but since they have probably been in several palaces at different points in their vast lifespan, their opinions have to be put into perspective. The lobby of the hotel is massive and resembles a Bavarian hunting lodge with large picture windows that face the slopes. There are huge stone fireplaces at either end of the lobby that are stoked with enough wood each to burn all night without having to add to them. I wander over to the windows as Buns checks us in. The slopes aren’t that large by the standards of most ski resorts around the world, after all, this isn’t the Alps, but it is perfect for what I want—a distraction.
As I gaze out the window, I see a group of teenagers snowboard down the hill and meet up at the bottom. Their carefree laughter, as they congratulate each other on the run, is almost shocking to me. I’ve forgotten that such things exist; that there are people whose only concern is learning a new trick to impress their buddies. I press forward near the glass; I can just make out one of them saying something about the wicked air he caught while freestyling in the pipe. They unstrap their boards and begin walking away toward the lights near the lifts. I follow their progression, my fingers running over the cold glass of the window as I walk across the back of the lobby, trailing them until I run out of window and can no longer see them.
Disappointment hits me when they are gone. They were probably about my age, but I don’t feel that young. I want to follow them, to beg them to teach me how to be young again because I’ve forgotten. I’ve let that part of me slip through my fingers and I don’t know how to get it back. Or, maybe that isn’t it at all—maybe it’s that I’ve forgotten what it is to be human—just human. I even call them “the humans” now, like I’m not a part of them. But I’m not, not now, and maybe never again. I’m surprised to acknowledge the sorrow that I feel for the loss of some of my humanity, even as I am grateful to be evolving so that I can keep up with Reed, now that I’ve found him.
Arms snake around me from behind, and seeing Reed’s reflection in the window, I lean back against him securely. “What were you thinking?” Reed asks me as he nuzzles my neck.
“When?” I ask evasively.
“Just now. You looked—lost,” Reed replies in a gentle tone.
“I’m not lost. You found me, remember? I was just thinking about how badly I’m going to smoke you out there on the
slopes. It could get ugly for you, you really should prepare yourself for the worst.” I say, trash talking to cover up for my earlier thoughts.
“Evie, you cannot be serious,” he says, smiling.
“Oh, but I am. You don’t stand a chance,” I reply, resting my head against his chest.
“Against you, you’re right—I never stood a chance,” he replies, and his words make me smile.
“See,” I say and hear him laugh.
“Okay, it’s all set,” Buns says behind us. I lift my head from Reed’s chest as we both turn toward her. “The cottage is ready. We just have to follow this map.”
“We’re not staying in the lodge?” I ask in confusion.
“No. We thought something more private would be better,” Buns explains as we head out to get back in the cars. We follow the map to a private drive that winds in a serpentine pattern through the woods, leading to an incredible cottage in a secluded area. Located just off the backside of one of the more impressive hills, the cottage is like something out of a fairytale. The cedar shake roof is covered in newly fallen snow. All of the doors and windows are rounded at the tops and contain shutters with wrought iron hardware. Each bedroom has its own private deck and there is a central deck in the back of the cottage, complete with an outdoor fireplace.
Reed cuts the engine to the car and I just sit in the passenger seat for a second, unable to move. “It’s so beautiful,” I breathe, because this cottage is perfect. I couldn’t imagine a more romantic setting.
“Evie, you make me want to show you the world. If I get this reaction from you by just taking you to a little cabin in the woods, what will you say when you see the Palace of Versailles?” he asks with affection in his tone.
“I don’t know, Reed, but this is pretty sweet,” I say, smiling.
The door of the black Range Rover parked ahead of us opens and Zephyr exits the driver’s side. He bolts around to the passenger side, and reaching in, Zee pulls Buns out of the car. Kissing her passionately, he then hoists her over his shoulder. My eyes widen in shock as Zephyr carries Buns to the door of the cottage and disappears inside.
Intuition: The Premonition Series Page 4