by Ciara Knight
“Have her home by midnight. Angel or no angel she’s still my daughter and you’re still a teenage boy.” Bruce slugged him on the shoulder then hugged Gaby.
Bruce released Gaby and sat down next to Grace. “There is one thing. Could I ask for a favor, Grace? Could Gaby stay with you for awhile?”
“Dad, no. Aren’t you through with all that? You’re not going back to—”
“Calm down Gaby. I’m not gonna hunt again. I just wanted to know if you could stay with Grace because I’m gonna seek professional help for my own demons.”
Gaby released Alexander and clutched her father’s shaking arm. “Your hands? Oh dad, you’re drinking?” Alexander flinched at the disappointment in Gaby’s voice.
“I was forced to drink by Forras, but honestly it didn’t take much convincing. I’m gonna go through detox again. This time I want to make sure it sticks. Would it be okay, Grace, for Gaby to stay here?”
“Of course, Bruce. Don’t worry about anything. I promise to keep a close eye on these two.” Grace pointed a finger and shook it at them, then grinned at Gaby’s giggle. “I’ll make sure Gaby does her homework every day.”
“Okay, okay, I promise to be good,” Gaby said. “Wow, school.”
“Great, school.” Alexander rolled his eyes but the truth was he looked forward to a normal day of classes and hanging at the beach with Gaby.
“Thanks so much, Grace. I want to be the father my G-Bear deserves. I have a lot to make up for and I want to do it sober.” Bruce hugged Gaby, pulled back a little and stroked her hair.
“Concentrate on getting well so we can be together again.” She kissed his cheek. “Oh, I almost forgot. Alexander and I have a Christmas present for you. We’ll give it to you soon as you get home.”
“Um, Gaby, about that, can I just buy a new one? I kinda don’t know anything about fixing boats,” Alexander confessed.
“Boats? What made her ever think you knew how to fix anything?” Grace chuckled.
“It’s a long story.” Alexander grabbed Gaby’s hand and headed to the beach to watch the waves crash in with the morning tide.
****
Gaby lifted Sammy’s birthday cake and carried it to the dining room. Alexander was right. Grace made the most beautiful cakes. Pale pink roses adorned the corners with two matching pompoms in the center. A darker shade of pink swirled along the edge and ‘Happy Birthday Sammy’ written in a smooth script across the bottom. It reminded Gaby of the cakes her mother made for her birthday.
Grace kissed Sammy’s forehead, “Sorry it’s a day late dear but I’ve been a little busy.”
Everyone gave a half chuckle as the birthday girl blew out the candles.
“What did you wish for?” Gaby asked.
“Nothing. I have everything.” Sammy reached over and grasped Boon’s hand with a sparkle dancing in her eyes.
Alexander covered his mouth, “I’m gonna be sick.”
Grace hit him upside the head with the spatula before handing it to Gaby.
“I’m just kidding.” Alexander winked at Sammy.
“I see we’re right back to the obnoxious big brother routine.”
Gaby snickered at Sammy’s remark, which quickly turned into a smile.
“Time for cake,” Sammy said, then served everyone a piece.
An hour later, Alexander gave Sammy a small square box wrapped in satin pink ribbons. “Happy Birthday, Sis.”
Sammy tugged the ribbon off the package and squealed as she lifted the lid. Gaby’s skin crawled as a flash of the night the diamond earrings were purchased returned. She ran her hand down her arm just to make sure it wasn’t bubbling. Taking a deep breath, she swallowed and pushed the memory back where it belonged—in the past.
“I know it’s your birthday Sis, but do you mind if I give Gaby something?” Alexander reached into his shorts pocket and pulled a small box out, giving a nod and wink to her father.
Her mind still clouded by her vision she didn’t realize at first what he held, but a moment later her hands started to shake.
“I know you said it was too much, that your father might have issue with you having it, but I talked it over with him. When he saw it he agreed.”
Alexander squatted down in front of Gaby and pulled a gold ribbon from the tiny box.
Gaby’s mouth went dry at the sight of him in front of her, box in hand.
“I know you’re too young for a proposal.”
Her dad coughed from across the table in confirmation.
Alexander smiled at him and took the white top off the box, pulling a small crimson velvet case out. “Instead of a proposal of marriage this is a promise ring.”
She wasn’t sure if she felt relief or disappointment at the clarification. Sure she was too young to get married, but so were many other epic lovers.
Alexander cleared his throat as if to get her attention again. “A promise that no matter what happens I’ll always do the right thing. A promise I’ll remain by your side and never run away. I promise I’ll respect your wishes. But most of all I vow I’ll love you always no matter what happens.”
Gaby tried to say something. But for once, her mouth couldn’t form any words. Her eyes misted and she blinked back tears. Her father sat a few feet away watching but didn’t threaten to kill him. How did Alexander do it?
“I-I don’t know what to say.” She looked down at the ring with a platinum band decorated with small diamonds, surrounding a larger one in the middle.
Her breath caught in her throat. She’d been so nervous on their first date she hadn’t really looked closely at the ring. It didn’t just look like her mother’s wedding ring. It was her mothers. The tears spilled over as she looked at her father then at Alexander.
“I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I sold your mother’s ring when I moved here. I hope you don’t hate me, but I wasn’t in control. There’s no way I would have parted with her ring voluntarily.” Her father cleared his throat. “I know your mother would want you to have it. I wasn’t much older than Alex, well I guess older then you when I fell in love with her. But that doesn’t mean you two should rush into anything,” he added, his tone firm.
Alexander slid the ring from the satin lining. “Do you want to be with me, Gaby Moore?”
He looked so vulnerable squatting on the floor with ring in hand. It might not be a marriage proposal but it was a declaration of love. To her that meant the sun, the moon, the stars.
“Yes, Alexander Lorre, I want you by my side no matter what happens.”
He held her shaking hand as he glided the ring onto her finger.
“Woot, woot, woot,” Sammy shouted, clapping as Boon walked over and punched Alexander on the shoulder.
Her father came over and squeezed her tight. “Just remember, it’s a promise not a proposal.”
“I know, Dad. Don’t worry, I’m in no hurry.” She smiled but knew deep down they would marry someday. They were destined to be together forever.
A while later, Alexander grasped her elbow and said, “We’re gonna head out for a swim. We’ll be back in a bit.”
Grinning, they raced from the room before anyone could stop them. They made their way to the beach, the sun bright overhead. He pulled her onto the sand in the same place where he’d rescued her that first morning. So much had happened since that day.
An angel for a mother. Earthbound hunter for a father. Demon blood coursing through her veins.
The demon blood frightened her most. The edgy feeling it created. An intoxicating power that could easily control her.
“Alex, I’m frightened by these powers. How can I be the key to saving all of Earth’s innocent people? It’s crazy.”
“Don’t worry, Gaby. There’ll be plenty of time. From what I understand the gifts will come slowly and you’ll master each before another one is granted.”
How could he still touch her knowing she had Forras’ blood in her? She looked out over the ocean to avoid his eyes.
“What
is it?” Alexander moved to face her, taking both hands in his.
“The blood. Forras’ blood haunts me. What if I can’t control it? W-what if I hurt you?” She sniffed and swiped at her eyes. Blasted tears betrayed her. Some divine gift from heaven. She felt like nothing more than a scared child.
“You won’t. Our love will get us through anything. Heaven brought us together for a reason. I truly believe that. Besides, it’ll be a couple of years before you’re ready to start training. And I plan on enjoying every moment until then.”
A tingle moved up her arm across her shoulders into her chest and down her legs. Happiness. It flooded every cell inside her body. She leaned in and kissed him pulling him into the sand. Their bodies melted together. Her leg curled around his. Her heart raced while white light swarmed around them.
He pulled back and she panted for breath. Both of them rested their heads in the sand and looked at each other.
“I love you, Gabriella Moore and I don’t ever want to be without you.”
Finally, the words she’d longed to hear. He loved her and he wouldn’t leave.
“I love you, too.” Gaby whispered as she leaned in for another kiss.
THE END
Ciara Knight
Ciara Knight always had a passion for storytelling. At an early age, she wrote several short stories and poems, and in college she started work on her first novel. It wasn’t until late 2008 that she returned to her true passion of writing. Over the past few years, she has penned five novels and joined several professional writing organizations to better her craft.
When not writing, she enjoys reading all types of fiction. Some great literary influences in her life include Edgar Allen Poe, Shakespeare, Francine Rivers and J K Rowling.
Ciara is happily married and enjoys family time. She has learned to embrace chaos, which is a requirement when raising three boys, and utilizes the insanity to create stories not of this world including, Fantasy, Paranormal, Sci-Fi, and Dystopian Steampunk.
Her first love, besides her family, reading, and writing, is travel. She’s backpacked through Europe, visited orphanages in China, and landed in a helicopter on a glacier in Alaska.
Also Available, Ciara Knight’s prequel to the Battle For Souls series:
Love’s Long Shadow
If you enjoyed Ciara Knight’s Rise From Darkness,
you might also enjoy these Young Adult authors
published by Turquoise Morning Press:
Gabriel Madison, author of Ariel
J. W. Keleher, author of Dancing Stones: Cliff Huggins in the American Southwest
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