A Touch Mortal

by Leah Clifford

  “What’s wrong,” he demanded.

  “Is she safe? Did you call her?” Gabriel collapsed on the bed.

  “She’s fine. What the hell happened?”

  “Luke.” His voice broke. “It’s Luke. He knew we were here. Az, he knows about Eden.”

  Az’s legs went out, dropping him onto the other bed. “How much?” he whispered.

  Gabriel met his eyes. “I don’t think he knows she’ll be a Sider, but he’s going to come after her. I’m sure of it. If he takes her…”

  There was no reason to say it, to add details out loud. Az flinched as if he’d been slapped. Luke wouldn’t kill her outright. He’d keep her in pain as long as possible.

  Worse, she wouldn’t be the first. Twice before. Violent, drawn out, and painful. Every day had been a battle against the Fall for Az, searching in vain, knowing Luke kept the girls alive. The search only ended when the packages started to arrive. A finger in a jar. A hand wrapped in newspaper. Gabriel had barely gotten Az through the loss, through the guilt. For weeks after, he’d done his best to pull him out of the depression, didn’t let him out of his sight.

  Even now, Az’s breaths came fast, his eyes darkening as thoughts of vengeance no doubt crossed his mind.

  Az shook his head, his eyes still glazed. “I told her today. About what we are.”

  “You should have waited for me!” Gabriel tried not to look startled. They were going to tell Eden, but he hadn’t expected Az to take it on himself. “You didn’t tell her anything else, did you?”

  Az shot him a look. “Of course not.”

  “Well, you didn’t call, so I guess she took it well?” He tried not to feel left out.

  Az nodded. “Gabriel, with Luke being around…” Gabriel heard the hesitation in his voice. “If he gets to her first, and does to her what he did to the others.” He swallowed, unable to go on.

  “We’re not going to let that happen,” Gabriel insisted.

  “What happens if Luke cuts her.” His shoulders shook. “Cuts her up,” he went on.

  Gabriel ran his fingers through his hair. “If he kills her, she’ll come back when she’s with him. He’ll know what she is. Az, he won’t stop.”

  “We can’t let that happen,” Az said.

  “Well then, we can’t wait much longer. Luke knows Kristen’s on our side. And as long as he doesn’t know Eden’s going to be a Sider, he won’t come looking for her. She’ll be safe there.” He dropped his hands to his knees. “As long as she goes Sider before Luke can get to her. Az, we’re running out of time.”

  Az rose to his feet, staying silent as he made his way to the balcony door and slid it open.

  They hadn’t exactly been looking for a grand view when they’d booked the room. Instead of facing the shore, the balcony provided an aerial glimpse of the homes behind the hotel. Twelve stories down the fog dimmed porch lights to the muted glow of a dozen fireflies. Az squeezed the rusty railing, his knuckles white, his back to Gabriel.

  “She’s happy. She’s not going to do it in time.” Az’s voice broke. Gabriel moved to stand beside him, leaning his arms on the railing.

  “She has to.” He glanced at Az, met his worried eyes. He did have an idea. It was horrible to even think about, but he had to suggest it. “We could give her a nudge.”

  “What do you mean, nudge?”

  “Losing you would break her.” He pointed his finger at Az. “She’s happy because she’s with you, Az. If you took that away from her—”

  “You’re seriously suggesting this?” Az interrupted, his face full of disbelief. “That I what, dump her so she kills herself? That’s fucked up.”

  But Gabriel couldn’t get the image out of his head. What Luke would do if he got to her. “Once she’s settled at Kristen’s, you can explain.”

  He leaned over the railing next to Az. Far below, the parking lot was only half full, car hoods wet with moisture from the fog. Az followed his gaze.

  “I can’t do that to her. I love her. She knows I do. What am I supposed to do, tell her I changed my mind?”

  Gabriel rolled his eyes. “Of course not. Tell her it’s for her own good, that you’re not good for her. It’s a sacrifice you’re going to have to make.”

  “A sacrifice,” Az said quietly. His expression turned thoughtful. “Where is everyone? Shouldn’t there be more people?”

  “It’s Sunday night. Most people are already headed home.” Gabriel pulled back, leaning against the glass of the open door. “Why?”

  Az didn’t answer the question. “Think it’ll be the same tomorrow? Empty like this? I don’t see anyone around.”

  “Probably,” Gabriel said. He was losing patience. “Az, breaking up with Eden is the best option. Let’s just hope it’s enough.”

  “We can’t risk it.” Az turned, heading back into the hotel room. “Whatever we do, we need to make sure it is enough. I have an idea.”

  CHAPTER 7

  Az reached forward and tucked a few strands of her hair behind her ear. Eden glanced up, smiling. The hotel comforter was scratchy, but she didn’t mind as she stretched out on the bed. She reached up to pull him closer, her hand sliding over his back, feeling the shape of his wings under the fabric. They were real. Still there and not some figment of her imagination. Az really was an angel.

  He flinched and she lowered her hand.

  “What time is it?” she asked.

  He pulled out his phone. “Almost midnight.”

  Eden groaned, taking out her own cell and dialing home. Her mom answered on the second ring. “Hey, it’s me. I’m with Az. Just wanted to check in.” There was silence on the line. “You there?”

  “Who is this again?” Her mom sounded confused.

  Eden sat up in bed. “It’s your daughter? Eden? Firstborn?” She didn’t know why she bothered anymore. “What time do you want me home?” she asked, finally.

  Instead of an answer, the call disconnected. “God, she can’t even talk to me?” Eden snapped the phone shut, turning to Az. “I haven’t done anything bad all summer and she just gets more and more pissed at me. She acts like I don’t even exist.” Eden forced her mom’s weirdness out of her head. She winked at Az as she ran a finger across his chest, her voice coming out sultry. “I could just stay here all night.”

  He didn’t smile like she expected. Instead, he clicked off the television, rolling over and off the bed.

  “Where are you going?”

  “I need air.” He crossed the room to the balcony, not looking back. He raised his hand to the metal of the handle and left it there, his head drooping. The exit sign behind her buzzed a steady, angry hum.

  “Seriously?” She felt her cheeks redden with humiliation, wondering why he’d pulled away.

  He flung open the balcony door without an answer, rattling it down the track. Eden jumped as it slammed. When he was outside, he slid it almost closed, leaving only the last inch open. An invitation.

  She sat, unbelieving, on the bed. What the hell is wrong with everyone lately? The blinds still swung wildly. Slowly she stood and made her way across the room and slid the door open.

  “Are you okay?” she asked cautiously.

  “No.” He leaned, his hand hanging beyond the railing of the balcony. Her fingers grazed his arm, following down until she caught his hand. She squeezed. His head fell onto her shoulder. His fingers found one of her rings, slipping it gently against her knuckle before he dropped her hand and turned away.

  “Az, if something’s wrong you need to tell me.” When he looked up, the sadness in his eyes caught her off guard. “I can handle it. You don’t have to keep secrets from me.”

  “Everyone Upstairs gave up on me a long time ago. As long as I keep the wings I’m not technically Fallen, but Gabriel’s the only one who sees it that way.” A sarcastic snarl crept into his voice. “Of course, I’m welcome back the minute I repent for my horrible misdoings.” His anger seemed to burn out as quickly as it came. His voice sounded shattered an
d small, breaking. “I never told you why I was cast out.”

  She’d never considered why he’d been kicked out. She stepped closer to him, her heart hammering as she steeled herself. I’ll love him no matter what, she thought, knowing how naïve the promise was even as she made it. “What did you do?”

  “I fell in love.”

  “Love?” She couldn’t keep the disbelief from her voice. “That’s why they kicked you out?” Her fears of something terrible, horrendous, melted away. “But that makes no sense. I thought Upstairs would be all about love.”

  “Exactly. We’re welcome to love angels, but not mortals? It’s delusional! When we were caught, they wanted me to admit I was wrong for loving her. I wouldn’t do it. So they kicked me out.” He pulled his cell phone from his pocket, checked the time before he shoved it back.

  Eden moved behind him, closing her arms around his waist. Under his shirt she could feel the wings shift slightly. “Well, that’s stupid.”

  “I was supposed to go back,” he said quietly. “I was supposed to repent and run home with my tail between my legs. But I didn’t. I wasn’t wrong. I gave up everything for her.”

  She kissed his neck softly. “Romantic, though. A bit like Romeo and Juliet.” Suddenly she stopped.

  An awkward silence bloomed between them, the question obvious. She asked. “Az, where is she now?” He swallowed hard.

  “Dead. She died a long time ago.”

  “Jesus,” Eden whispered. “What happened?” she asked.

  “I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you.” A dark shadow seemed to pass over him. He shuddered as if to shake it off. “I’m afraid for you.”

  “Afraid for me? Why?”

  He swallowed hard. “As long as I’m not full Fallen, I could go back Upstairs. The Fallen will do whatever they can to get to me, make me one of them. They’ll come after you, Eden. Hurt you.” He pulled away from her, hopped up on the railing, his legs wrapped around the spindles for balance.

  Panic twisted in her stomach but she forced it down, met his eyes. “Let them fucking try.”

  “She said the same thing.” The raw pain seemed to radiate from him. “They’re capable of cruelty you can’t imagine.”

  She laid her hand on his knee. “Stop,” she said gently. “Nothing is going to happen to me.” She tried out a smile but Az shook his head. He let go of the railing, dropping his hands onto his knees.

  When he looked at her, the sorrow in his eyes made her breath catch. “You’re going to regret me.”

  “Regret you! What are you talking about?” She stepped toward him, confused. “You lost me, Az.”

  At her back a door slammed. Her stomach dropped as Az’s eyes widened. The Fallen, she thought. She spun, ice running down her spine. Her hip smacked against Az as she turned. Gabriel stared at them blankly from the door he’d just closed.

  She didn’t have time to register her relief before she heard Az gasp, turned back toward him.

  Tipped off balance, his hands flailed through the empty air. There was no sound in the moment before gravity took over, when time froze, when she looked at him, where their eyes met.

  He fell.

  CHAPTER 8

  One split second passed where she could have reacted, could have reached him in time.

  Just enough time to grab his hand. Used up on locking eyes when she should have already been pulling him back. And then it was gone.

  “Wait!” Az cried as he went over, and at the same time from behind her Gabe screamed, “Wings!”

  She heard Az hit the pavement. Gabe crashed into her from behind, forcing Eden into the railing.

  She saw him.

  One of his legs bent back in the odd half-cocked angle overused in a thousand movies. His sweatshirt pulled up, like he’d struggled to get it off, to get the wings out in time. She shut her eyes but it was too late, the image burning behind her eyelids.

  A keening ripped through her, up her throat as she yanked back, pushing Gabriel off her, dropping.

  She thrust out a shaking hand, grabbing the railing above her, ignored Gabe’s panic. “Is he moving? Is he…?” Her voice shook, syllables broken by half-formed sobs.

  She twisted away from Gabe, brushing off his hands as she rushed into the room, through the door, spilling down the emergency staircase.

  Her sobs echoed through the stairwell, grief moaning back from the walls. Dead. The word leached into her, a chill she couldn’t shake. No. It wasn’t possible.

  She heard Gabe shout her name. At the ground floor her legs went out from under her.

  He caught up as she collapsed, catching her as they sunk to the floor.

  “Tell me angels can’t die. Tell me he’s okay.” She pulled back, desperate. “Gabe?” When he lifted his head, she caught the wet shine of his eyes.

  His whole body shook. He looked away. “Don’t make me answer.”

  “No,” she whispered. “I have to get to him!”

  She pulled herself up by the doorknob.

  “Eden.” The tone of Gabriel’s voice stopped her. “You don’t want to see him.” His fingers found hers, trying to lift them from the knob, but she turned it anyway.

  “What if he’s not dead?” Even to her the words sounded hollow. “What if he’s hurt?” she asked.

  Gabriel pulled the door open, cupping a hand under her chin. “I’ll check for you, Eden. Would that help?”

  She nodded numbly. There was no hope in his voice. Deep in her heart something broke loose, draining away everything inside. She walked through the doorway into the lobby in a daze, out the main entrance of the hotel.

  It’s all over. The damp night air curled around her like denial, cold and still and empty. She hugged her arms around herself, not caring where she went. Somehow she made it across the road, down the stairs to the beach, knowing Gabe would look for her there.

  I bumped his leg, she thought, barely aware of walking. The lights from the boardwalk grew dim. I just left him there.

  She dropped to the sand. Every hope. Every dream of their life together, gone. Her life over.

  “Eden?” Her heart jumped at her name, but it wasn’t him. Gabe. Only Gabe. He shook his head.

  “Are you sure?” She glanced over to Gabe, barely able to make out his face in the darkness.

  “You shouldn’t be out here alone, Eden.” Gabe’s voice was soft, careful, as he squatted down next to her. She winced when he touched her hair, running his hand down to her back. He took her hand, pulled her to her feet.

  “Why?” she asked. “He was worried the Fallen would kill me.” He nodded in confirmation, and she turned. “I hope they do,” she whispered, too low for him to hear.

  “Eden?” Gabe released her hand when she pulled away. For a moment she thought he’d heard, would argue, but then he leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “I am so sorry,” he whispered.

  She blinked hard, staring into the open water. She walked into the surf, swaying as the waves broke against her knees. “Leave.”

  He hesitated, but only for a moment. She watched, stunned, as he made his way back to the stairs, climbed them without looking back.

  The retreating water swirled as it rushed away, pulling at her ankles. Az was really gone. I’m all alone. The thought brought back her tears.

  She kept her eyes on where the horizon should have been. There were no stars; it was impossible to find where the water ended and the sky began, only waves retreating into black.

  A dark sea of nothingness.

  CHAPTER 9

  Gabe’s hands clutched the rock, his legs quaking, threatening to give out, tip him into the fresh puddle of sick beside him in his hiding spot. He pulled himself up, fingers cramping and sweaty against the stone he’d hunkered down behind.

  Eden’s body was facedown, far enough from the water’s edge that only the most ambitious waves brushed her heels. The shadowed figure at her side had her by the wrist. Gabe swallowed hard. Leave her, Luke. Walk away. He sent the thought
out, hoping the suggestion would be enough. She’s dead. She’s nothing to you.

  There was no reason for him to take her now, mutilate her. No gain. But with Luke, anything was possible.

  Dead. The word echoed through his head, louder each time. She’s dead. She’s really dead. He squeezed his eyes shut. Stop. She’s gonna be fine. Three hours from now, you’ll have her at Kristen’s. He stifled a relieved moan when Luke cast Eden’s wrist loose, the arm falling, deadweight.

  Gabe stayed hidden long after Luke made his way up the stairs and out of sight. Finally, he stumbled to Eden.

  Her head was turned toward him, her eyes closed. The skin he could make out under the veil of her sopping hair was tinged blue.

  All he had to do was get her to the parking lot, to the rental car.

  “Come on, love,” he whispered, scooping a hand under her knees, another under her back. “We caught some luck with Luke seeing you like this. He’ll think you’re dead.” Her head lolled and he tightened his grip, pulling her against his chest. “Now we just gotta get you to Kristen’s.”

  He straightened, stumbling in the sand.

  There would be people on the boardwalk, but even if they suspected something was wrong, he doubted they’d get involved. If there was one thing to be counted on, it was how eagerly the mortals ignored what they didn’t want to see. The truth passed right by, and never once did they open their eyes.

  CHAPTER 10

  Eden nuzzled deeper into the covers, letting the warmth lull her, waiting for the new dream to take over. Already there was a soundtrack, the strange sound of violins mixed with a thumping bass beat. Carnival music? The boardwalk? The thought seemed to wander around her brain, bringing with it a dusty scent like dried roses. Her nose wrinkled. Eden opened her eyes just before a sneeze slammed them shut again. The smell was real.