“Melanie, I need you to give me some space…your all, uh…in my personal bubble,” I said practically tripping over my own words. Personal bubble? Is that the best I got?
“I know,” she chuckled. Her hands slid down my chest and she grabbed on to the bottom, getting ready to pull it over my head. Yeah, that’s as far as she’s going to get.
“Okay, enough,” I said, pushing her hand away as I climbed off the bed and put a few feet between us. “I haven’t been gone that long, so what the hell is wrong with you?”
“Nothing,” she clipped out. “I just want to have a good time.” She stepped toward me and I stumbled backward, with a hand outstretched in front of me to stop her. This was a repeat of what happened the last time she was drunk and I hoped she didn’t have this sort of encounter with another guy.
“A good time? Since when have you become such a creep?” I know, harsh, but seriously, when did she get like this? I thought her being around the team was a good form of protection but now I’m not so sure. Did they do something to her?
“A creep?” she said taken aback. “You never were one to insult people. Why don’t you call me what you really mean—a slut.” Now it was my turn to look taken aback.
“Melanie, for the love of God, just give me the ring and I’ll get out of your hair…please,” I slightly begged because there’s no way I wanted to even go near this conversation with her.
“That’s all you care about, that stupid, cheap looking ring!” If she only knew. “Do you not want to know how I’ve been?”
Okay, I was getting pissed. “I have asked, but you keep skirting around it with your damn attitude, Melanie! There’s only so many times I can ask and get shut down. I’m not going to be begging you if that’s what you’re looking for,” I said. How many times had I asked how she was and if she was okay—but she blew me off. What more did she want from me?
“You don’t care how I’ve been, don’t act like you do,” she said and I was able to get a very small glimpse of the old Melanie as her voice got quieter.
“Of course I care, Mel. But your acting sort of crazy and I don’t know what to say or do to get a response from you,” I said softly.
Her eyes glossy and wide, she blurted, “I’m dating Anthony.” I think I choked on my own saliva because I coughed like I was choking on a chicken bone. This was definitely a change in the conversation and I’m either having hallucinations, or this girl was bipolar.
Through teary eyes, I noticed she was still standing in just her bra, which resembled a lot of the old Melanie. Just a simple, pale pink bra. As my coughing fit calmed, I smiled a little towards her and thought maybe all hope wasn’t lost.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
I nodded. “Yeah, sorry. Saliva, wrong pipe.” That was such a garbage excuse, but it was the best I had.
“Are you mad at me?”
“Mad, no. A little confused, yeah. If you’re dating Anthony, why’d you just throw yourself at me? That’s not cool, Mel,” I said and I wasn’t completely truthful. Not that I was necessarily mad, but maybe put off? I don’t know, it’s hard to explain but I guess I’m a bit miffed at how quickly she was able to move on.
“I didn’t mean for it to happen but…a lot’s happened since you left and well, I never thought I’d see you again. But when your mom passed away, I figured you’d be returning for the funeral. This is going to sound stupid,” she said and looked away. “But I thought if I seduced you, you wouldn’t leave again. You wouldn’t leave me.” I stood there frozen and slack jawed, unable to respond. “I know, it sounds nuts, especially since I’m with Ant, but I’m in love with you Max. Not him.”
“Mel…I don’t feel the same way,” I said once I found my voice. I felt like an asshole but if I wasn’t sincere now, this would all turn into a mess later on. “Being with Anthony is the best thing for you. Right now, my life is in shambles and it was that way before my mother passed. It wouldn’t be healthy for us to be together. You deserve someone who feels the same way.” She shed a tear and I wanted to console her, but I didn’t want to send her any mixed messages—or give her any hope.
“Is it because of her?” she asked and I cocked my head. “Because of Angela?” she reiterated and I sucked in a breath. Telling her the truth wouldn’t hurt as bad, but it wouldn’t keep her safe.
“Yes, it’s because of her,” I lied and I wanted to slam my face into the wall. But surprisingly, it didn’t feel like too much of an omission, which made me scrunch up my eye brows.
She went to the head of the bed and reached under the pillow. In her hand she held a ring box and she handed it to me. I hesitantly grabbed it without touching her and flipped the lid open. There in the middle was the gold ring, with the shiny blue sapphire sparkling back at me, and the engraving around it. “Thank you,” I said sincerely.
She nodded. “Your truck is in a storage unit just outside of town. I can mail you the address and keys to where it is,” she whispered. I reached for her hand and put it in mine. I hadn’t wanted to touch her, but there was no way she could confuse what I was about to say.
“I know you don’t have to listen to me and I’m pretty much an asshole, but don’t do this to yourself. No matter what you may think, I care for you and I had liked you a lot, Mel. I just wasn’t in love with you. But I liked you for you, not the person standing in front of me right now. And trust me when I tell you, this isn’t what Anthony is into either. If it was anybody else on the team, I’d have understood, but Ant is the least shallow person in the world and he’d like you just the way you are.”
The waterworks were coming down hard as she squeezed my hand and said, “Thank you.”
24
Once Melanie had put on her shirt, I gave her a hug goodbye, and I left her upstairs to get her bearings together, because it would be goodbye. I had known for a while, but these last two days solidified my decision. I wasn’t coming back here and I was glad. While I may have had some great memories in this place I call home—I also had some really bad ones. At this point I know the best thing for me is to find a new place to call home and start fresh where no one knows me. And possibly somewhere where angels and demons won’t follow.
I found Jones in the kitchen nursing what looked like a beer; I gave him a nod and we started to say bye to everyone, promising to see them again soon—even though we wouldn’t. No one asked where we’d been and I wondered what Jones had said.
We got in the SUV and pulled out of Anthony’s. I took one last look before we zoomed down the road toward the warehouse district.
“You don’t want to come back, do you?” Jones asked beside me in the passenger seat.
“What makes you say that?”
“You have this resolved look on your face. It’s okay if you don’t, I was just wondering,” he said and pulled out his phone. “Oh man, we need to make a detour to the Lair.”
I sneaked a peek at him and quirked a brow. “Huh?”
“Nikolai. I have a missed text from about twenty minutes ago saying he’s in trouble,” Jones said. I know I shouldn’t have, but I couldn’t contain the nervous laugh that came out. One thing I won’t be able to complain about, is that life will never be boring.
I parked on the curb out front of the Devils Lair. It was quiet from the outside, but I knew better. A rune was in place to keep out the humans from the real commotion that brewed inside. I reached over to the backseat and grabbed my hoodie. It’s a costume I used the last time I was here and it wasn’t effective whatsoever but it’d had to do. I slipped the black sweater over me and pulled down the hood to conceal my face. As we got closer, the glamour of the rune to hide its true appearance started to fade until I was face to face with the actual Lair. Back in Vegas, the rune in place wasn’t a glamour like this one. I wonder why.
Jones led the way and the familiar bar opened up where many fallen angels were hanging out. I couldn’t lift my head to scan the place, without giving away who I was, but I opened my senses and liste
ned for Nikolai’s voice. He wasn’t in the bar area so I widen my hearing to the pool hall further down and that’s when I heard him.
“Come—come on now, fellas, I have more money to blow. Just another game, I’ll put down all my millions on the table,” he said. I grabbed Jones wrist and jerked him to me.
“What’s up?”
“He’s out back by the pool tables. I think he’s hustling some fallen,” I said and followed Jones’ footsteps. We made it to the far corner where the lights were dimmed and stopped as Niko’s voice became loud and clear. I shut my hearing off and took a peek under the hood. Sure enough, the fool looked beyond wasted with a group of about four fallen angels.
“Ah! My friends are here!” Nikolai said. Jones growled and I had to hold back a laugh.
“Uh, yes I think it’s best if we take you home, friend,” Jones said tightly. He was not a happy camper right now.
“No, no, you just got here. Let the party really begin!” he yelled. “Waitress! Bring us another pitcher!” Oh, good lord. Not caring who saw me, I looked up at Nikolai and shook my head.
I grabbed his elbow and whispered, “If you don’t cooperate, I light my hand on fire. It’s time for us to go home, remember I can’t be here.” I gave him a stern look and it seemed like my words sobered him up. Well not entirely but at least he understood.
I bowed my head again and I didn’t need to pull him because he voluntarily came with us.
“Ey! Ya promised millions, boyo, yer not leaving until we play.” I froze as the familiar accent made me tense. It wasn’t Aiden, no matter how much I didn’t trust him, for some reason I knew he wouldn’t keep me here longer than necessary. But these guys I knew and there was only a few Irishmen I know. These were those soccer playing bastards that nearly killed me during a game.
“I might have opened my big mouth prematurely,” Niko whispered to me and I could wring his neck at this point.
Jones was now huddled by us. “What’s wrong?” he asked and I looked up at both of them.
“I know these guys,” I said. “I played a game of soccer with them and Aiden last year. They don’t like me. And since Aiden isn’t here, there’s no one to stop them from pummeling me.” I sounded like a kid who was scared to get beat up in the school yard.
“What did you do to them?”
“Nothing, they uh…they knew the previous Wrath. I don’t know what their relationship was, but they don’t like me because of it,” I said as I winced from the glare I got from Jones. This was one of the few secrets I’d kept to myself. Not that it was a big deal or needed to be mentioned, but it might have been helpful in this situation.
“What else have you been keeping from me?” Jones said. I avoided his stare and his question. No point in getting into the Origin of the Nephilims here.
“Can you just give them some money so we can go?” I said to Nikolai, his eyes were glazed over and I think he was about to pass out. This is a wonderful reminder for me to never drink alcohol. He is such an idiot! “Hello!” I snapped my fingers in front of his face. “Wake up, dude.”
“Sorry,” he said and turned around. “How about we forget the game and I just write you guys a check, eh?” Always the diplomat.
“No, lad. Not only do we want all ye money, but we want the boy as well,” one of them said and I nearly fell over. When will I ever realize that this disguise sucks?
“Run!” Greed yelled and it took me a moment to register he was already almost to the door. What a chicken.
Jones and I hauled ass behind him and I dug into my pockets for the car keys and tossed them to Jones. He’s a much better, high speed chase driver then I am. Nikolai and I both, dove into the backseat and locked the doors just as Aiden’s Irish buddies came barreling out of the Lair. The wheels of the SUV squealed as Jones stepped on the gas and we sped down the street.
“Can we go through a drive thru? I got the munchies,” Nikolai broke into the tense silence.
“I’m gonna kill you!” Jones said as he reached into the back seat, hands aimed for Greed’s neck.
“Hey! Hey! I’m sorry, calm down, I’m just hungry!”
“Jones, relax,” I called out and directed him back to the road. We’d been swerving and were lucky it was so late into the night that no one was on the street.
“Relax?! He almost got you killed!”
“I know, but we’ll deal with this later. I’m tired and just want to get some sleep,” I said as I yawned.
“Yeah, well don’t hold your breath, we’re talking once we get back to my place. I want to know all the little secrets you’re hiding from me,” Jones said and it was like a bucket of cold water. There was no way I’m getting out of this one.
We pulled up in front of Jones apartment building and I was pretty much left to carry Nikolai to the second floor alone; he is too heavy. My father and Angela were already in there waiting for us and I dropped Nikolai on the ground as soon as we stepped inside. I was so not tucking him in bed if that was what he thought. The poor guy didn’t even move, just snored louder than he had in the car. My father either barely noticed him or chose not to. He waved us on over to the dining table and we circled the book that held too many secrets.
Without being asked, Jones recanted everything from the party at Anthony’s to our small getaway at the Devils Lair. I really was starting to get sick of that place. With that being said, I pulled out the box with the Ring of Solomon and placed it on the table. My father was the first to reach for it and opened the box. His eyes grew and Angela leaned over to get a look.
“Wow, it’s exactly like the picture,” my father said in shocked admiration. “We need to keep this safe until we can figure out what it really does and how it ties into everything. I went to the post office to get a home address for Mr. Delaney, but they said he retired suddenly. Which just means he has something to do with all of this, but I don’t know if it’s worth hunting him down.”
We all nodded and then Jones cleared his throat. He so graciously told my father how I’d been withholding some truths from them. “I think you have some stuff to share with us, Max?”
“I lied,” I sighed, all eyes on me. “I lied when I said I never opened the Origin of the Nephilims.” There were no gasps or shocked looks from my two guardians or my dad. So I continued. “Have you read any of the prophecies other than the one we read about the Wanderer?” I asked and they all shook their heads. I figured as much. They probably were doing as much research on this Wanderer guy as possible, but there’s too much information to sift through in the book.
I grabbed the book and flipped to the page I’d read and reread, over and over again during our cross country road trip, while Jones slept. I pointed to the passage they needed to read and waited.
The balance between good and evil will tip and no longer will our protectors, protect, or will our killers, kill. This time of unrest will come when the Wanderer and the Fledgling interfere with the stability of nature. Many innocents will be killed by both good and evil before balance is restored; the only solution will be the sacrifice that must be made.
I held my breath and watched as the three of them finished reading. There was more they needed to read, but this pretty much summed it all up. Just like Jeremiel had said, nothing is what it seems. A couple months ago I had been so worried and having a melt down over finding out I was Nephilim; when I should have been looking at the bigger picture. I should have looked at all the people I’ve met since then and put the pieces together.
“It took me a while to put it together. But this is why I say Samuel is at the top of my list of suspicious people. When I last spoke with Jeremiel, he acted as if I were the one that would be dying from Azrael’s hint. It wasn’t until recently that I realized he knew someone was coming for him. He’s the Angel of Prophecies, he sees these things beforehand. Then, I thought about how easily it was for the archangels to say they’d help us, but they couldn’t guarantee the safety of the rest of you. It didn’t make sense at the
time but it does now. They have a hand in making this prophecy come true, and they want it to come true. I don’t know why yet, but I’m almost positive. I think they kidnapped Jeremiel because he was too close to me and they were scared he’d tell me. But he didn’t, and that’s what I haven’t figured out why yet.” No one appeared mad or upset at the information I withheld, just deep in thought.
“So what do you think about these prophecies?” It was Angela who asked. I contemplated ignoring her, but this wasn’t the time to be immature. I’d get my time with her, I was sure of it.
“I don’t know who the Wanderer is yet,” I paused. “But I’m pretty sure I’m the Fledgling. There’s a whole description on the Fledgling and it’s too coincidental for it not to be me.”
Jones flipped through the pages until he found the description I was talking about.
This Nephilim will be born in the middle of pandemonium and unrest; hidden within the humans. From birth, there will be many hunting him without his knowledge. When the time is right and he is ready for the truth and is prepared to accept his destiny, then will his Origin be revealed.
Only then, will the Fledgling be able to confront the Wanderer and be the ultimate sacrifice; he will be the salvation for all.
It was too much of a neon sign to not know it was me they’re talking about. After learning all of this, I pushed it all the way to the farthest corner of my subconscious in hopes that I’d forget. And I did for a while. My mother’s death sort of took precedent to it and we hadn’t run into any fallen angels until last week. There’s no better way to deal with the fact that you will die, then to pretend you don’t know. If I was still human, or at least thinking I was, it wouldn’t matter, death is inevitable. But when you learn of your immortality, you tend to fear death a lot more.
Greed (Sins of the Fallen Book 2) Page 14