by Megan Linski
Whoever it is, I don’t know them. A chill runs up my spine. It’s a burglar, must be.
The figure looks up at my window, right at me. If it were daylight, we’d be locking eyes. I go to grab my phone, to wake Isolde and call the police, but the figure turns on its heel and leaves. It heads into the forest and disappears into the sanctuary of the trees.
I snap the curtains shut, feeling spooked. Whoever that man is, I’m pretty sure he was here for me.
In a week, the school is abuzz that Thames Deacon dropped out of high school three months before graduation.
“He totally joined the military,” Lavonne insists at lunch. “It’s the only thing that makes sense.”
“Nuh uh. He started a band. California would be my guess,” Sydney says wisely. “He’s totally the type.”
“Maybe he got an early scholarship and left?” Emalee suggests.
“What do you think?” Lavonne looks at me as she asks the question. “You knew him better than any of us did. Did he tell you where he was going?”
I pull my eyes off of my college application and stare back at them. All eyes are on me. What would Thames want me to tell them?
He’d probably think it’d be funny if I riled them up, gave the school something to talk about. “He uh… he got in trouble with the law.” More truth than fiction. “He had to leave town.”
“What was it for?” Lavonne leans forward eagerly. The rest of them zoom in.
I shrug. “I don’t know. He didn’t tell me.”
“Ooooh,” the girls all say at once. They look like I’ve delivered them a particularly delicious rumor that must be spread at once.
“Juicy,” Lavonne adds.
“He must’ve fought a cop,” Emalee squeaks in excitement.
“Murder,” Sydney suggests, and the girls cackle while my stomach drops. I finish my lunch in silence while the girls come up with wilder and wilder theories about what Thames did that was so bad he had to leave town.
I’ve tried not to be miserable since Thames has been gone. But if I’m honest with myself, the only thing that distracts me from the thought of him is his brother.
“You shouldn’t encourage them.” Cairo leans against my locker at the end of the day. He’s trying to replace his brother. He can’t do it. “Half the lacrosse team swears that Thames robbed a bank.”
“I thought the latest rumor was he stole a car?” I ask.
“Cassia, take this seriously.” He frowns. Cairo has been unusually grumpy since Thames left. I can’t say I blame him.
The days pass by slowly. The snow comes back, then melts again. On March 28, I wake up to sunny weather and clear skies. Isolde’s waiting for me downstairs with a fancy cupcake topped with a burning birthday candle when I come down.
“Hey.” She gets up and gives me a hug. “Happy Birthday. You’re finally eighteen!”
“Finally.” I smile. I close my eyes, make a wish, then blow out the candle. I stuff the cupcake in my mouth, because it’s really freaking delicious. Isolde’s busy puttering around the kitchen like it’s a national holiday.
“You’re not going to school today,” Isolde informs me. “We have a big day ahead of us.”
“Sounds good to me.” Not going to school is already a great birthday gift. Isolde makes me open my presents, which consists of no less than a brand-new outfit, new shoes, a laptop and about ten other gifts before I’m allowed to get ready.
Afterwards, Isolde drives me to take my driver’s test. I pass with flying colors, and we stop by the DMV so I can pick up my temporary license. She takes me out to lunch (pastys!) and we go shopping. As our final stop, Isolde runs me to the post office before we head for home.
“Are you sure you want to do this? You can always wait another year.” Isolde kneads the steering wheel anxiously as I drop the application in the mail box.
“I know it’s late. I probably won’t get accepted, but I feel like I have to try.” I re-buckle my seat belt. “Don’t worry, Isolde. The flight school’s nearby. I’m not going anywhere if they actually take me.”
Her face relaxes. She leans back in her seat and sings along to country music on the way back home.
When we come back to the house, Cairo’s there waiting for me. He has a large bouquet of flowers in hand and is leaning against the bed of his truck. I get out of the car and take the flowers from him. He plants a sweet kiss on my cheek.
“Happy Birthday,” he murmurs in my ear. “Are you ready for our date?”
“Yes.” My body’s humming all over. I don’t know what Cairo has planned, but I’m looking forward to it.
“I’ll take these and put them in water.” Isolde takes the bouquet from me, and gives me an encouraging nudge. “You two go have fun.”
I hop in the truck. Cairo takes a turn out the driveway to a winding road, one that twists and turns within the trees. The path only gets smaller and smaller, until it turns into a dirt road that I swear no one has used in the past decade.
“Where are we going?” I ask curiously.
“We need to be deep in the woods, so we’re not seen.” Cairo’s eyes flicker to the rearview mirror before they land on me. He smiles. “It’s a surprise.”
Cairo pulls off the gravel. He off-roads the truck for a bit until the trees become too dense. He parks, and we hold hands as he weaves me through the forest, around the trees.
After thirty minutes, he stops and looks around. “This looks like as good a spot as any.”
“What is it for?” I’m still looking around dumbly for my prize.
“Hold onto me. You’ll see.”
Cairo extends his arms wide. Again, he begins to glow with a radiant light, his wings appearing and extending behind him. I step forward and embrace him tightly, my arms wrapped around his middle.
Once my arms are securely around him, Cairo’s wings begin to beat. They take two long, flowing movements before they begin to quicken, and our feet slowly rise off the ground. Cairo loops his arms around me, fastening me to him tightly as we rise into the air and up past the trees.
Cairo doesn’t stop there. His wings carry us upward, over the tree line and toward the clouds. His wings tilt to change direction, and Cairo climbs higher, using his wings to swoop in circles this way and that. Every movement is precise, calm and safe. His heartbeat mingles with mine as we pass over clouds and through the atmosphere.
I can’t look down. I can’t look away from anything but Cairo’s perfect face.
Ten thousand feet up, Cairo pauses. Without a word, he bends down to kiss me. A brush of restlessness passes through me, and I kiss him back. Our lips dance in an intricate ballet as his wings keep us aloft, then suddenly, are snapped to his sides.
Cairo doesn’t stop, however. He only increases the intensity of the kiss, and squeezes his arms so I’m pinned against his body as we begin the descent. As we kiss, we plummet toward the earth at a speed faster than imaginable.
Only at the last possible minute before we smash amongst the tree tops do Cairo’s wings open. We sail over a small sapphire lake below. Cairo hovers downward, and my feet torturously touch ground again. It’s a painful endeavor now that I know what it’s like to soar through the clouds with Cairo.
“Why did you stop?” I ask. I bury my face in his chest. “I wanted it to go on forever.”
“All angels must land sometime.” Cairo lets me go, and walks onto a lopsided dock on the lake. A small rowboat is tied to one of the poles there. Cairo climbs inside, and I follow.
Cairo rows us out into the middle of the lake. By this time the stars are poking out and it’s starting to get dark. Cairo leans down. From underneath the seat he plucks a small, black box.
“I wanted to give this to you.” He hands me the box. “To show everyone you’re my girl.”
“Your girl?” I open the box, and gasp. Inside is a diamond necklace of two angel wings, a sapphire pendent suspended between them. “Oh Cairo, it’s gorgeous. I love it.”
“I knew
you would.” I move my hair back, and Cairo fastens the chain around my neck. Even in the moonlight, the necklace glimmers,
“This day has been perfect.” I reach forward and grab Cairo’s hands. “Thank you for making it so special for me.”
“Did you think I wouldn’t?” Cairo’s eyes glimmer. “I love you.”
“You love me?” I whisper back. It was something I already knew, yet everything changes when I hear him say it.
“Yes. More than anything in the world.”
Unexpectedly, lightening crackles above. The sky flashes, and from out of nowhere freezing rain begins pouring down in buckets.
“Cassia…” Cairo says, but his words are cut short when I grab both sides of his face and bring him close to me, so I can kiss him once again.
Everything that was broken inside me has mended itself together. When I came to Heaven, I believed myself too damaged and used to be of any interest to anyone. I thought I could never love anyone, that no one could love me, but I was wrong. I’m not meant to go at this alone. My destiny is to travel forward into this life with Cairo beside me always. Caught in this torrent of rain and love falling upon me, now I realize it.
As we’re kissing, Cairo teleports us back to my room, leaving the boat behind. I pull away and say in a tease, “I was enjoying that.”
“I don’t want you getting a cold.” Cairo’s cheeks are flushed. Looks like he enjoyed it, too. I lean in to give him a hug.
“Thank you, Cairo,” I say. “For everything you’ve done for me.”
He understands exactly what I mean.
Cairo stays at my house until midnight, until he has to go. He says a quick goodbye, and gives me another sweet kiss before taking off.
My head is buzzing by the time he leaves. I’m so deliriously happy right now. Literally nothing could ruin this. I flop onto my bed, sighing in bliss.
This isn’t real life. This is some sort of fairy tale. I close my eyes, trying to revel in the moment. I want to preserve some piece of this so I can remember it forever.
It’s been a long, happy day. Unexpectedly, I start dozing. I reach out a hand to turn off the light, but it meets something else instead.
A body.
My eyes jerk open. Before I can see who’s there, a blindfold snaps across my eyes. I scream as loudly as I can, but a hand clamps down over my mouth, muffling the sound.
Panic infiltrates my every thought. Everything, the trauma, the fear, the absolute terror comes rushing back. My fantasy, what happy life I claimed, is torn in two as the need for survival takes place.
I thrash out my hands and feet, trying to fight back. They only hit air.
Someone grabs a fistful of my hair. The hand over my mouth is rank with the smell of ash. Smoke filters into my mouth and lungs. I cough harshly, eyes watering. I struggle desperately to breathe, but the intruder is too strong, and the smoke increases.
Darkness surrounds me, and my body goes limp.
My last thought is of Cairo before I pass out.
My mind is groggy and muddled when I awaken. Where am I? I open my eyes, and the room comes slowly into focus. A crushing terror squeezes my gut as I recognize Thames’ living room. Why am I here?
A pair of boots. Someone is standing nearby. My gaze travels upward to a tall man in a large trench coat, a man with brown eyes and dark hair.
He seems fake. Not real.
“You’re a demon, aren’t you?” I’m bold enough to ask the question.
“Yes.” His brown gaze, so unsettling, burns right through me. His voice sounds human. But I know he’s not.
“If you’re a demon, let me see you as you are,” I say. “I know that’s not your true form.”
“If I did that you’d lose your mind. No mortal can set eyes upon an angel or a demon in their true form and still retain their sanity afterwards.”
The demon seems extremely calm. Almost detached. I swallow nervously. My mouth is terribly dry. Cairo will figure out that I’m gone and come looking for me. I only need to buy time.
“You’re Thames’ father, aren’t you?”
He doesn’t answer. When he says nothing, I press, “Do you have a name?”
“Alexander Deacon.”
“No. Your real name.” I blink. “Your demon name.”
“You wouldn’t be able to pronounce it.” The demon shakes his head. “Yes, I’m Thames’ father. That is the unfortunate reason why you are here.”
“Why’d you bring me here?” I inch my way off the ground, slowly rising to my feet.
“Because there was no other way,” Alexander responds solemnly. “I had to make my son see reason.”
“Reason?”
“Human women are particularly alluring. So much so that we immortals would do anything for them.”
Alexander moves forward. I take a step back, useless as it is. “My son became too entirely wrapped up in your game. And now the Nephilim council will make him pay for it with his life.”
“It was you outside my window that night,” I say. “You saw Thames and I together. You saw us kiss.”
“I saw him become enchanted under the spell of a witch.” Alexander’s voice is spiteful. “I knew Thames’ life would be in danger once he fell for you. I tried to warn you to stay away from him, but you wouldn’t listen.”
“You attacked me in the forest on the first day here.” My words are rushing together, so much so they’re almost slurred. “You sent the hellhounds after me, at Thames’ house and at the school. You’re the one who’s been trying to hurt me.”
“I apologize. The first time when I ran into you was truly an accident. I was being chased by that blasted Nephilim. I knew if I attacked a mortal he’d be more concerned with defending you, and I’d have a chance to get away.” Alexander bares his teeth. “I sent the hellhounds after you to try and scare you off, but nothing phased you. Over the change of the year Thames and his half-brother chased me across the Canadian border. I tried to get close to my son, to talk to him, but I couldn’t with the Nephilim in the way.”
“Cairo.” My hands bunch into fists. “His name is Cairo.”
“Yes. I am well aware of your affections for the abomination. It makes the game you’re playing with my child all the more cruel.” He narrows his eyes.
“I love Thames, too. I love your son.” I can feel my whole body getting red with heat, furious anger welling up beneath my skin.
“But you chose the Nephilim over him, even though Thames put his life at risk by protecting you.” Alexander’s voice grows, becoming loud.
“What about Clara?” I say nastily. “Did you forget all about her, how you made her choose?”
Something changes in Alexander’s eyes. They flash, and become almost soft. Reminiscent. “I didn’t mean to hurt her. I truly had no choice.”
“But you left instead of choosing to stay and fight.” I take a deep breath, to steady myself. “She still misses you.”
Alexander looks away, “I can’t say that I don’t miss her as well. But our love wasn’t meant to be. The chaos it has caused is proof of that.”
His gaze flashes back to me. “You must understand why this is critical for me to do. I must take your life.”
“And what good will that do?” I ask viciously. I know I’m pushing my luck, but I’m not willing to go down without a fight, pitiful as it may be.
“After you’re dead, Thames will see reason,” Alexander insists. “He’ll join me, and together we can slaughter the Nephilim council. My son still has a chance to survive.”
He looks me up and down. “But as long as you’re still alive, he’s still trapped under this senseless notion called love. He’ll put himself at risk to protect you. That’s something I cannot allow anymore.”
Alexander moves closer. He’s almost whispering in my ear. His close proximity makes me shudder. “The life of a mortal is so short, so purposeless. It’s the same thing as slaughtering a dog or cat, in our eyes. It’s sad, but necessary. I will make it p
ainless. That’s more than what most of my kind would do.”
I lick my lips. Every fiber of me is shouting at me to run, to fight back, but I know it’s purposeless. I don’t have a shot, as a human. “If you’re gonna do it, go ahead.”
“Very well.” Alexander takes a step back and raises a hand. “It will be quick. I’ll return your ashes to your foster mother afterwards. You at least deserve a proper burial.”
I’m too scared to say anything back. Flames begin balling up in Alexander’s hand. I close my eyes, and wait for the end.
A loud crunching sound, one of drywall and wood ripping apart, catches my attention. I open my eyes and see a great blur of light crash into Alexander, slamming him into the wall.
The light dims, and my heart sings with relief as I realize it’s Cairo. His wings are extended, an expression of malice written on his face as he raises his golden sword to point it at Alexander.
“You’ve harassed me for too long, boy!” Alexander bellows.
“You will not touch her,” Cairo snarls. He dives forward with his sword, but a spear of flame generates in Alexander’s hands. Cairo plunges at Alexander with the sword, light beaming behind him, but Alexander meets each one of the hits easily, like he’s done this all before. Cairo tries move after move on Alexander, but the demon seems almost bored with his tactics.
“I’ve done this for thousands of years, child! You cannot beat me!” Alexander rages. He swings the spear upward and it cuts Cairo across the cheek, causing a large gash beneath his eye. Cairo holds onto his face, yelling in pain, while I scream.
Cairo’s not powerful enough to beat Alexander. He can’t win. I look around for some way to distract Alexander so Cairo has a chance, but too late. While Cairo’s clutching his bleeding wound, Alexander raises a hand. Fire shoots out of his palm at an excessive rate, immersing Cairo in flame and dimming his light, until his wings disappear and the halo around him vanishes.
Cairo sinks to his knees, screaming in agony. Alexander laughs. Cairo curls inward on himself as his skin slowly starts to blacken.
“No!” I charge forward, launching myself on Alexander’s back, but he uses an arm to easily toss me away, sending me flying to the other side of the room.