Rise From Darkness

by Ciara Knight

  She held one in her hand for awhile, touching the canvas and following the brush strokes with her fingers. It was a scene of dark meeting light in a sea of color spinning like a tornado in an alleyway. There was something significant about this picture, but what?

  Around two in the morning, Patronus lifted his head, a minute later she heard her father’s car coming down the driveway. The door clicked and by the sound of shuffling feet, she knew he was drunk again. She crawled back into bed and for the first time she welcomed the dreams in hopes they might reveal something, anything that could help save her father, protect them from Forras, or learn if she’d lose Alexander back to Heaven.

  Chapter Nine

  Gaby tiptoed down the stairs, avoiding the third creaking step so as not to wake her father. Placing the leash around Patronus’ neck, she opened the front door a few inches, so that it wouldn’t squeak, and squeezed through.

  There was a cool breeze coming in from the ocean making it almost a pleasant temperature. The mornings usually brought a reprieve from the harsh summer heat.

  Patronus stopped, looked around and then darted away, yanking Gaby along with him. “Patronus, wait. Slow down.”

  He led her to a clearing where she discovered Sammy sitting on a fallen tree trunk. Arms wrapped around some guy and locked in a passionate kiss. A kiss she longed to have with Alex. Gaby tried to pull Patronus away, but he pranced up and rubbed against Sammy’s leg.

  The guy jumped up with a look of fear in his eyes. It was the smaller boy from the group of guys at the beach, Boon. Gaby turned to see what was behind her, but nothing was there.

  “Hi. I-I’m sorry I didn’t mean to interrupt. Patronus here has a mind of his own.” Gaby patted him on the head.

  “It’s okay. We were just talking.” Sammy fidgeted with the hem on her hot pink mini-skirt.

  “I think you were doing more than talking.” Gaby joked.

  “You can’t say anything. I mean, to Alex.” Sammy grasped her arm eyes wide, “please Gaby.”

  “Why don’t you want Alex to know? Is he really that over-protective?”

  “It’s not that.” Boon stepped closer. “I’m not good enough for Sammy.”

  “Don’t say that.” Sammy let her arm go and leaned into Boon. “He just doesn’t understand you’re nothing like them.”

  “Like who?”

  Sammy and Boon looked at her as if she were missing something.

  Boon … Alex … friends … football. “Oh!”

  “I think she gets it Sammy.” Boon crouched down and pet Patronus.

  “But I don’t understand. I thought Patronus protected me from demons. If you’re a—”

  “He protects you from harm. Boon is not a threat to you. He’s no threat to anyone.” Sammy crouched down next to Boon and looked at him with so much compassion and love. Gaby longed to have Alexander look at her like that. To be a real couple.

  “Gaby, please just promise me you won’t tell.”

  She had just made Alexander promise to tell her everything. How could she lie to him now?

  “Please Gaby.” Sammy pleaded.

  “If asked I won’t lie. But I won’t volunteer anything either. That’s the best I can do.” Having friends definitely complicated life.

  “I guess that’s better than nothing. I’m sorry we put you in this situation.”

  “I better go.” Boon kissed her on the cheek. They stood for a moment starring into each other’s eyes until he took off into the woods.

  “I still don’t understand, Sammy. Why don’t you want Alex to know about Boon? Does he not want you to date anyone, or is there something personal with Boon? I mean if he’s different from the others—”

  “It’s personal. Please, I don’t want to have to choose between them. How could anyone choose between two people they love?” Sammy looked down and away. Her normal peppy nature tinted with sorrow.

  Gaby didn’t want to be the cause of her having to choose. Sammy the first true friend she’d ever had, she didn’t want to hurt her.

  “I won’t tell him.” Gaby prayed Alexander wouldn’t ask her. But then, why would he?

  Sammy jumped up and threw her arms around Gaby. “Come on, we better get to cheerleading practice. I don’t want my brother asking why it took me so long to get there.”

  “We can use Patronus as an excuse. Let’s go drop him off at my house and we can walk to cheerleading practice from there.” Gaby pulled on Patronus’ leash.

  “Sounds good. I can’t believe summer’s almost over. A couple more weeks and we’ll be going to school again.” Sammy jumped up and down with her renewed cheerfulness.

  Sammy chatted all the way to practice but Gaby couldn’t focus. What would happen if Alexander found redemption? If a demon could fall in love with an angel than anything was possible.

  ****

  Sammy cheered her on as she climbed to the top of a pyramid at the start of practice. Everyone knew by now Gaby preferred the bottom of the pyramid but she was determined to conquer her fear.

  “You’re looking good up there, babe.” Forras crashed practice with a few others dressed in football pads and jerseys.

  His voice made her skin crawl. Looking at him sickened her.

  “My name’s not babe. I wouldn’t be so cocky. The way you guys scrimmaged, the fans will be here to watch us cheer instead of watching you guys get clobbered.” Gaby’s nervous energy fostered hostility. How could she act like this guy was normal when she knew otherwise?

  Forcing a smile, she did a double back flip off the top and landed lightly on her feet.

  “I see our friendly wannabe saint has filled you in.” His buddies nodded in agreement.

  How could he know that? Gaby tried to change her posture to reflect less hostility. If he figured out she knew about him would it change anything?

  “Ignore them, let’s get back to practice.” Sammy glared at Forras and ushered the girls into a line to practice a cheer.

  “Where’s your pet?” Forras yelled back as he walked onto the football field.

  Gaby didn’t know if he meant Patronus or Alexander, but she refused to rise to the bait and give him any information.

  Moments later, she caught a glimpse of Alexander’s car pulling into the parking lot. The muscles in her face quickly tightened, she tried to suppress her smile but couldn’t.

  Forras turned to see what she stared at. “Ah, there’s your pet now.”

  Gremory smacked Forras on his shoulder pads and they left to pummel each other on the field. Relieved by their departure Gaby released her clinched fists and rubbed the marks from where her nails had dug into her palms.

  Alexander approached with a large bouquet of flowers in tow. “How ‘bout a real date tonight?” He gave the flowers to Gaby.

  She smoothed back the hair from her face and tried not to fidget too much. Glancing around she noticed everyone’s eyes were on them. The entire football team and cheerleaders stood as witness. Her heart raced from embarrassment and excitement. A real date?

  “What kind of restaurant will allow Patronus in?”

  “I thought it could be just the two of us tonight.”

  Gaby leaned in to whisper. “Is that safe? I mean, you said we shouldn’t be alone without Patronus.”

  “We won’t be. We’ll be in a restaurant with lots of people. If you can promise to behave, I’ll promise to stay in control. Deal?”

  “Sounds great to me.” Wiping her palm on her navy blue shorts, she took his hand and walked to the car.

  Her heart fluttered with disbelief. Did he really just ask her out on a date? Her eyes started to water as he squeezed her hand.

  Still, something deep inside wouldn’t allow her to be truly happy. A low whisper of danger, loss, and fate haunted her. Even now walking with a Fallen Angel she still felt vulnerable to darkness and shadows.

  ****

  Entering the house through the kitchen, she spotted Patronus jumping three feet in the air with excitement at the
sight of her. It was nice to have a companion in the house to greet her. She took him for a walk, and when she returned, Sammy waited at her door. Her small frame danced around on the front step as she approached.

  “Can I ask for a favor?” Sammy didn’t even take time to say hello.

  “I guess.” Something about the way Sammy asked made her pause. This whole friendship thing was new it was probably just her anxiety over trying not to screw things up.

  “I don’t think you’ll like it.” Sammy warned her.

  Life was so much less complicated before she met Sammy and her brother but she still wouldn’t give it up for anything. “What is it?”

  “I’m going to spend some time with Boon while you’re on your date with Alex.”

  “Okay.” Gaby waited for the difficult part.

  “I need you to warn me when your date is over. Alex’s been watching me like crazy. Excluding this morning, this is the first chance we’ve had to see each other in days. Please Gaby were just going for a swim and we’ll hang out on the beach while we eat a picnic dinner.”

  “I have to be home by eight in case my dad comes home tonight.” Gaby warned her.

  “I’ll take it. Thanks so much.”

  “Remember, if you get caught, I had nothing to do with it.” Gaby swallowed hard. “What if Forras tries to drown or mark you as he did me?”

  “He won’t. He can’t. Thanks again,” Sammy said as she rushed off.

  Once she was alone, Gaby raced to her room to get dressed for her date with Alexander. She stood looking at her closet with little to choose from wishing her mother could be there to help her.

  After twelve wardrobe changes and an hour of make-up application, she looked in the full-length mirror. The dark blue sundress with spaghetti straps clung to her body. Except for her broad shoulders, she felt almost sexy. Skimming her closet, she found a shrug to hide her less feminine feature then slipped on her one pair of heels and sat at the front window waiting for Alexander.

  Her first official date, how she would’ve loved to share it with her mother. To have Alexander walk in and meet her parents like a normal family. Her mother would graciously welcome him into their home. While her father scowled or made those stereotypical comments a father makes about ‘having her home on time’ and ‘I know where you live.’

  Startled by the sound of her cell phone ringing, she answered with the daydream still lingering around her.

  “Hello.”

  “Gaby. Gaby, can you hear me?”

  “Dad?”

  “Gaby, I can’t hear you. If you can hear me, I’ll be home late.”

  “How late?” For once she was happy he was ditching her, it left more time with Alex.

  “Don’t know. Make sure you lock up if I’m not home by bed time.”

  “Yes, sir.” She stifled the excitement in her voice.

  Click. The line went dead without so much as a goodbye.

  Patronus started to bark moments before Alexander’s car came down the drive.

  Alexander exited his car dressed in black pants, t-shirt and a pale green button-up over it. Thank god, she wasn’t overdressed.

  He walked up to the front porch. The tight fitting shirt revealed broad shoulders and muscular arms.

  Taking a deep breath, she tried to steady her hands as she opened the door.

  Alex just stood there starring at her for a moment. “You look beautiful.” She fidgeted not knowing how to respond. Compliments were few in her house.

  He offered his hand and escorted her to the car. Her chest rose and fell quickly as he shut the passenger side door and walked around the car. Trying to calm herself, she took a couple deep breaths before she hyperventilated.

  They had spent a lot of time together, but this was their first official date. This was her first official date ever. How was she supposed to act?

  Awkward silence filled the car as they drove the winding road toward town. It was going to be the longest couple of miles, ever.

  “Would you like to listen to some music?” Alexander sounded so formal.

  “Sure.”

  The radio blared when he hit the button making them both jump.

  “Sorry, I guess I listen to my music kind of loud.”

  “Kinda?” Gaby smiled.

  “Oh I forgot.” He pulled a CD from a case and slipped it in. “I remembered you liked eighties music.”

  An old Bon Jovi song came on and for a moment she could hear her mother sing along. “Thanks.” It was one of her mom’s favorite bands and her insides warmed at the memory.

  The music soothed her nerves as they pulled into a parking lot.

  “This is amazing.” Gaby gawked out the car window at a strip of shops that looked like an old-fashioned main street nestled in the woods. At the far end a pier jutted out over the ocean.

  “I like it here. They have an old bookstore, movie theater and some great food. Do you like Italian?” Alexander spoke quickly.

  “I love Italian food.”

  “Well I would’ve loved to have flown you to Italy tonight, but considering you’re still working on your fear of heights, I thought this might be better.”

  “Yeah, I think you’re right.” They both smirked, but Gaby knew he probably wasn’t kidding.

  “I’ve always wanted to visit the Louvre in Paris, you think we could stop there sometime?” Gaby teased.

  “Sure, no problem. It seems like a good place to go on a third date.”

  The car rolled to a stop in a parking spot and Alexander jumped out and opened her door, offering his hand. They walked up to the boardwalk and window-shopped down the strip, lined with white twinkling lights.

  “Sammy’s Earth birthday is in a few months, would you mind helping me pick out a gift?”

  “Earth Birthday?”

  “Grace gave us each a date of birth for all our documents. We decided to start celebrating it a couple last year. We do a little family birthday party. Grace makes a big cake from scratch and we sing happy birthday. I know it sounds kind of stupid.”

  “No. It sounds perfect.” Her mother had always made her birthdays special.

  “Well good. It won’t be hard to convince you to join us for the party.” He smiled.

  “I’ll be there.”

  They walked into a jewelry store and looked at some necklaces and bracelets.

  “What do you think about these?” He held a pair of diamond earrings in his hand.

  “I think she’ll love them, but can you afford that?”

  “Money isn’t really an issue. Grace made millions during the great depression.” At her arched eyebrow, he shrugged and said, “Another long story. Anyway, she has it all in a trust account and we live off the interest.”

  “Must be nice.”

  “I guess. I’m not really into the fancy cars and clothes. That’s more Sammy’s department.”

  “I know what you mean. I’m more of an antique and gently used kind of girl.”

  “So the diamond earrings wouldn’t be your style?”

  “I don’t know if any girl would turn down diamonds, but if I picked something out it wouldn’t be shinny and new.”

  Alexander pulled her over to another jewelry case. “So this would be more your style.”

  The case was filled with watches, rings, and necklaces that probably dated to the early nineteen hundreds.

  “Yes, much more my style.”

  “The lady has great taste.” A salesman quickly followed them around in hopes of making a bigger sale. The man held out a few items.

  A silver ring with a few diamond chips surrounding a center larger diamond caught her eye. It was eerily familiar. It looked a lot like her mother’s ring. Of course, it had been over a year since she saw it, but she couldn’t help but try it on.

  “I’ve always loved silver.”

  “It’s not silver honey, its platinum. The ring is a total of three carats set in platinum.” The sales clerks condescending voice made Gaby cringe. Who car
ed what it was made out of.

  “The ring reminds me of my mother’s.” She couldn’t help but look at it a few seconds too long. Slipping it from her finger, she quickly changed the subject. “I think Sammy will love the earrings.”

  The man started to protest as she placed the ring back on the table. Gaby couldn’t stand high-pressure salesmen.

  She looked around for a quick escape. “I’m starving. Do you mind if we go eat now?”

  “Sounds great. Can you wrap the earrings for my sister, and I’ll take the ring, too. We’ll be back to pick it up after dinner.”

  “Yes sir. I will clean them and wrap it.”

  “Thanks.”

  “No, I can’t take the ring. Just wrap up the earrings. It’s too much, too soon.” Gaby looked at him, her eyes wide and she hoped not showing the fear she felt. God help them if her dad spotted the ring on her finger. There’s no way she could explain his type of wealth. And in her gut, she knew he’d go ballistic or worse, make them move again.

  Alexander’s face drooped in disappointment. “But—”

  “Please Alex it’s too expensive and my dad…it wouldn’t be pretty.”

  His lips pursed in a thin line and she hoped they wouldn’t fight. Then he smiled and gave a sharp nod, and she sighed in relief.

  They made their way to a restaurant at the other end of the pier. As they approached she thought it was an old shack. There was a clothesline out front with socks, men’s old red long underwear and overalls hanging from it. They walked across a little wooden footbridge and into the front of a gorgeous restaurant. Complete with candle light and red tablecloths. They were seated next to a large plate glass window overlooking the ocean.

  “Look down there.” Alexander pointed into the water. There were dolphins jumping in and out as if playing a game of tag.

  “Wow, this is amazing.” Gaby rested her elbows on the table then pulled them away and glanced up at Alexander.

  “I’m glad you like it.” He shifted in his chair. “I have to confess I was a little nervous about this date.”