The thought made me shiver. “But you showed me the veil, I didn’t see anything—”
“That’s because the cove is protected by angel magick. Only a seraphim angel can cast a protection spell.”
“But I thought you said you were an archangel?” My eyebrows rose in confusion.
“In Eden there are ranks. The seraphim are the top-ranked angels who are closest to our Father. We call them The Shinning Ones. They wield their power in their hands to blind their enemy. I only know of one fallen seraphim on Earth—Alva. The archangels are the soldiers of Eden who fight the demonic forces to protect humans from being devoured.”
I rubbed my temples trying to process everything Milo was telling me. “So how does the tattoo protect you?” I asked.
“They keep you alive,” he said.
“Do you have any?”
Milo slipped his white t-shirt off exposing a tan cut body. Even though I’d seen him shirtless before, it didn’t stop my heart from skipping a beat. I scanned his torso for any marks but found none. I watched as Milo closed his eyes somehow willing the tattoos to appear. Blue beams of light spiraled all around his arms, his chest and all the way up to his neck. I reached my hand for the Celtic tattoo in the shape of a shield that covered his chest and slid my fingers over it. A tremor ran through Milo’s muscle, almost like I affected him somehow. I pulled away, surprised by my curiosity.
“They’re beautiful.” I beamed. “Does the tattoo work on a human?”
“I’m not sure,” he said with a smile that knew where I was heading.
“Try it on me,” I blurted. “Tattoo me.”
Milo narrowed his eyes with uncertainty. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” I replied trying to sound brave. “If these things are out there, I need as much protection as I can get, right?”
“Right,” he smiled. “Where do you want the tattoo?” Milo poured metallic blue ink into small containers then prepped the needles. He grabbed a lighter out of his pocket then proceeded to heat the needle with the searing flame before dipping it into the blue liquid.
I scanned my body searching for the least noticeable place to add my new act of rebellion. Even though it was invisible, I didn’t want the tattoo to suddenly glow in a spot that could easily be detected. It had to be completely hidden. The last time I showed interest in getting inked my mother told me, ‘over my dead body.’ Even though I felt bad for going against her wishes, it was my body, my decision.
“I don’t care,” I said. “As long as it’s covered.”
Milo’s lip curled into a mischievous smile. Damn, maybe I should’ve chosen a spot myself, but it was too late. He lifted my shirt from the side exposing my abs and the gray wing of my bra. Raising the underband of my bra, Milo caressed the skin for a second, my muscles tensed at his touch. He reached for my back and unhooked my bra. My breathing suddenly became short and unsteady as he slid the strap off my shoulder. I kept my free arm around my chest over the shirt to make sure nothing bulged out by accident. Milo’s lip curved sensually, as I bit down on mine. The room was suddenly hotter than a sauna.
“It’s hard to tattoo with it in the way,” he explained. “Just breathe. This might hurt a little.”
As soon as the needle touched my skin, hot waves of prickling pain shot down my skin. I jerked a little at the pinching sensation penetrating my flesh. Suddenly the idea of getting stabbed by a needle for twenty minutes didn’t sound so appealing anymore. But Milo’s voice soothed me.
“Just relax,” Milo said in a laid back, calm tone.
I closed my eyes trying not to focus on the pain. Commanding my body to calm down, my focus settled on the music instead. The slow, ambient rhythm wrapped around my soul like a warm blanket sending me into a dreamy stupor.
When I opened my eyes, they immediately fell on Milo who was still gently tattooing me. Being in such close proximity to him had me aching for something I’d never experienced. I watched him as he carefully etched my skin, his muscles contracting with every move. He looked so damn hot doing it. The heat waves came back, only this time they were more pleasurable than painful. There was a desire I’d never felt with Eddie before. It was that same stupid involuntary desire that had me feeling so nervous because I was afraid of my inability to control it.
Before I knew it, it was over.
I marveled at the small tattoo. There was on O in the middle, with straight lines in different sizes radiating from the center with circles on each point. It looked like a star. Milo grazed his fingers over it causing the tattoo to glow.
“Whoa,” I said. “What does it mean?”
“Enlightenment”—he rubbed Vaseline over it—“you’ve become awakened to the truth.”
I smiled. “I love it.”
Milo’s fingers circled around the tattoo allowing them to linger until the blue glow faded and the symbol disappeared. When my eyes reached his, I could see the longing in his eyes. The same aching I felt.
“Can I have you?” he whispered.
I nodded involuntarily. “Yes.”
His lips crushed mine. He kissed me so vigorously it took my breath away. For the past few days, I tried so hard to repress my feelings for Milo, but I couldn’t help it anymore. I kissed him back hungrily, all the tension since the last kiss building up to this moment. He wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me into him. I could feel the warmth of his body on mine as I straddled him digging my fingers deep into his back, feeling his solid muscles underneath.
Milo brushed his lips from my jaw to my ear and then kissed my neck. I shivered, his lips tickling my skin. My heart pounded endlessly. My body yearned for more. He reached for the hem of my shirt sliding his hands up my back caressing my bare skin. I didn’t stop him, even if the logical part of my brain was screaming for me to stop him.
In the background, the music switched from mellow to angry. The song Stupid Girl by Garbage played sending red flags all the way down to my gut. My first instinct was to push him off, this felt wrong, and I wasn’t ready for a physical relationship, but my body told me otherwise. I was too weak to pull away.
He pulled my shirt over my head breaking our kiss for a brief moment. I pulled him back to me and raked my fingers through his long hair. His breathing became heavier. Milo reached down to pull off the pajama bottoms when suddenly, the black snake from the cove slithered from Milo’s back onto my arm. Panic rose inside my chest as I let out a scream.
Pushing Milo off me, I backed up against the bed and quickly picked up the shirt from the ground covering my chest. I scanned the room for the snake, but it was gone. I must have imagined it. Just like I imagined Mary’s face twisting into a demon. Or had I?
“What’s wrong?” he growled, his eyes filled with irritation and confusion.
“I can’t do this,” I said putting the shirt on. “I’m not ready for this.”
He opened his mouth to say something but instead frowned. “You’re right. I’ll take you home.”
CHAPTER
23
Milo raced east down an empty I-75 as I held on to him for dear life. Images of demons, snakes, and Priscilla flashed through my mind. And I think I may have angered Milo. I rejected him. Bruised his ego. It was probably the reason he was rushing to get me home. Milo knew he was wasting his time with me, he knew I wouldn’t give him what he wanted. Maybe it was for the best, I tried to convince myself. Maybe it would be better we end whatever we had right now before it went too far.
I didn’t realize we weren’t on the highway anymore when Milo parked the motorcycle near a dumpster blocking our presence behind MAJOR FOCUS, INC., one of the largest camera stores in Atlanta. The parking lot was empty; it was obviously closed. And I had a nagging suspicion whatever Milo had planned wasn’t good.
“What are we doing here, Milo?” I asked Milo as he dragged me to the side of the building.
“Wait right here.” Milo disappeared to the back of the building before I could protest. I chewed on my lip as I lo
oked around hoping there weren’t any cops around. Suddenly, the side door swung open with a loud bang causing me to jump. Milo waved for me to follow, and like an idiot who couldn’t say ‘no,’ I went inside the store with him.
I scanned the building, my gaze shifting to the surveillance camera hovering above me.
“I deactivated it,” Milo said reading my mind.
“Milo, why are we here?” I demanded. “This is a felony. This could land us in prison!”
“We’re here to shop. An up-and-coming filmmaker needs the best equipment in the business. Pick anything you want,” he said waving a hand around.
I stepped back. “No. I won’t steal.”
Milo took out a pack of rolled hundred dollar bills from his front pocket.
“It’s not stealing when you’re paying for it.” He walked over to the front counter placing the cash by the register. “Come on, we only have a few minutes before the security guard returns.”
“Security guard?” I asked, my voice laced with worry.
Milo grabbed a black backpack from a display near the cashier then removed the paper stuffing. He took my hand and jogged down the television aisle until we came to a stop in front of a glass display filled with cameras. Behind the glass wall, there was a collection of some of the top DSLR cameras from Nikon to Pentax, the latest Blackmagic Pro 4k—the crème de la crème of film cameras for amateur filmmakers—and staring back at me, the Canon 5D. For many months I’d done my research on which camera I would buy to shoot my experimental films if I ever came across the money, and this was it. It was perfect for me; small enough to carry around to any film shoot, affordable and it had been used in many Hollywood films like Black Swan, Drive, and Road to Paloma.
I was literally drooling.
“Alexis, here.” Milo threw the backpack to me.
“Why can’t you be like a normal person and come during business hours?”
“That’s no fun,” he shot me a mischievous grin. “Which one do you want?”
I pointed at the Canon.
I opened the glass door to the lens cabinet and stuffed a few Canon lenses inside the bag, while Milo slid open the glass door to the camera display slowly when a small red light turned on activating the alarms. The high pitched buzz wailed throughout the store assaulting my ears. I froze, feeling the panic rise inside my body as red lights flashed overhead. I backed away frightened at getting caught, even if the items were paid for. Milo grabbed the camera, stuffed it into the backpack and grabbed my hand.
“Run!”
We ran back in the direction we came in, but an overweight rent-a-cop blocked the door. My eyes widened with fear at the sight of the guard coming toward us. My feet skidded on the smooth concrete floor but straightened back up as we whirled around and ran in the opposite direction.
“Stop!” he yelled chasing after us.
Milo pulled me along toward the front doors. I staggered holding on tightly to Milo’s hand as blue lights suddenly enveloped us. A police car was parked outside calling for backup into his radio.
We were so screwed.
Milo cut through the middle of the store, the guard running straight for us, when suddenly, with one swift movement of his hand, Milo fired an invisible beam of energy at the guard who was pushed back landing into a display of DVDs.
We got on the bike when sirens wailed behind us. Milo pushed his bike going over seventy miles per hour weaving through cars and running red lights. A car screeched to a halt in the middle of the road then honked at us. My breathing quickened. My heart pounded at my throat. I didn’t want to die. I didn’t want to go to jail.
Two police cars were now on our tail and closing in fast. Milo cut into an alley to lose the police officers. He zipped down the empty road and turned sharply into the street with a loud squeal of his back tire. With no obstacles in sight, Milo raced out of Atlanta and into the mountains.
My mother’s Expedition came into view as Milo parked the motorcycle a few blocks down from my house. The lights were out, everyone was probably asleep. Milo accompanied me to the balcony where we stood in silence.
“That was fun,” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm. I handed Milo the backpack. “I can’t take this. You’ve already done so much for me…” I trailed off.
Milo pushed the bag towards me. “Just thank me by giving me credit in your movies.” He reached into the backpack and took out a brand new iPhone. “I figured you could use this.”
My mouth fell open, then a smile crept onto my lips. “I prefer the walkies.”
He reached for the back of my jeans and inserted the phone into one of the pockets.
My face turned beet red. “Milo…what happened earlier—”
“Already forgot about it,” he replied in a cold, dry tone.
I nodded, my eyes dropped in disappointment.
“You better go inside,” Milo said offering a helping hand.
I quietly opened the door to my room, still bummed from Milo’s cold demeanor, when I heard my mother’s shrilling voice.
“Where were you?”
I froze then panicked when she came into view. She was sitting on the corner of the room shrouded in darkness. I tried to keep calm as I searched my brain for an excuse—any excuse.
“I was…working.”
“Don’t lie to me.” I considered arguing with her, but I knew I wouldn’t win. All I could think at that point was to plead and beg for forgiveness. I was about to open my mouth when my mother held up my sketchpad. Milo’s nude drawing came into view. I dropped my gaze too embarrassed to face her. I was done.
“Were you with him?”
“No.”
“Stop lying to me!” She raised her voice sending shock waves through my body. “Were you with him?” She got up from the chair inching closer to me. I backed away slowly afraid she might actually hit me.
“The drawing is for an art project—”
She leaned into my face then smelled my breath, touched my clothes. She noticed my hair was frizzy—a clear sign it had been wet.
“Did you have sex with him?” My mother’s accusatory tone had me feeling ashamed of something I hadn’t done. I tried to hold back my tears.
“No,” I let out in a shaken whisper.
That’s when she threw Milo’s boots on the bed. My face turned to pulp. There was nothing I could to say to my mother to convince her I didn’t do anything with Milo. She had made up her mind.
“I did not raise you to be so stupid!” she exploded with anger. She ripped apart my sketchbook, the pages slowly drifting to the floor. I gasped, crushed, as my hard work lay scattered all over the room. She heatedly stomped around the room ripping my posters off the wall and hurling everything in sight to the ground. The Super 8 Dawn had given me shattered sending broken pieces flying all across the floor.
“Didn’t you learn anything from your sister?” she screamed harshly.
I ran into my closet shutting myself in, my hands shook as hot tears streamed down my cheeks. Every word my mother said to me stung. I covered my ears to muffle the loud thumps of my things hitting against the walls. When my mother finally left the room, I heard the balcony door open. I felt a warm hand on my face. Milo’s eyes were soft with concern. I jumped into his arms and buried my face into his chest sobbing uncontrollably.
“Shh,” he said. “I’m here now.” Milo held me in silence, caressing my hair until I slowly drifted off to sleep.
CHAPTER
24
I woke up the next morning to the high-pitched buzzing sound of a drill. My mother was changing the doorknob to the balcony door and replaced it with a deadbolt. Déjà vu triggered my memory, she did the same thing when Priscilla screwed up. Sitting up on my bed, I felt a rush of frustration and thought back to all the stupid decisions I made that led to this. I understood why my mother was angry with me; I broke her trust. This was my punishment. My room turned into a prison, and it was all my fault.
“Is that necessary?” I aske
d.
“I don’t need you sneaking out of the house while I’m at work. I have too many things to worry about. Teen pregnancy isn’t on that list. Oh, and by the way, you’re grounded.”
Yep. I figured as much.
She locked the door with a key, collected her toolbox, then walked past me.
“How long am I grounded for?”
My mother stopped at my bedroom door. “I’ll let you know. But for now, give me your keys and cell phone.”
“What? How am I getting to school?”
“It’s called a bus.” She scanned the room flipping through perfume bottles and make-up on the vanity, searched through the drawers, and closet. “No more Jane taking you to school, no Julian, and especially no Dawn.”
Anger boiled inside me. It’s wasn’t fair she was taking my car. She already locked my room, but my car? I worked hard for that car. No self-respected Junior took the stupid bus to school. It was the license to drive year when you no longer had to endure the smell of aging vinyl in the school bus.
This was my worst nightmare.
“No,” I said sternly. I knew I was acting like a brat, but I wasn’t giving in. My mother’s face turned sour.
“The longer you make me search for those keys, the longer you will be grounded,” she said expectantly with a hand stretched out.
“Tell me where you sent Priscilla,” I returned, face serious. “Then I’ll give you the keys.”
My mother’s nose flared, smoke literally steaming out of her ears. As she continued to search my room, I prodded with questions.
“Where did you send her? A psych ward? A group home? Is that why she hasn’t come home in years?”
My mother kept quiet as she entered the closet. The sound of hangers racking back and forth echoed through the door.
When she exhausted her efforts in the closet, she stumbled onto the night table. Tears threatened to pour out at any moment. She opened the drawer and found the keys sitting inside. I wanted to throw a tantrum, stomp around my room and slam the door shut. But in the end, I’d still be grounded without a car. Goodbye life, goodbye Milo. I groaned as I watched my mother take my freedom away.
THE TRAGIC + DIVINE Page 22