by Valerie King
Chapter Nine
Secrets
Hazy shadows bustled around me; a soothing voice was singing my name, yet I couldn’t summon up enough strength to speak back. Blinking my eyes repeatedly, I finally caught sight of the distraught look upon my mother’s face as she sat next to me, her hand holding mine tightly.
“Carl, she’s awake. Get her some water, please,” she said, fear quivering in her voice.
Mom hung over me, her soft lips kissing my forehead as she gently stroked my hair. I moved my left leg and grimaced in pure agony, spasms of excruciating pain radiating through my body. I felt like my limbs had been twisted and torn, my breath slow and steady as tears fell from my eyes. My ribs ached, and my head pounded with an excruciating headache.
“Shhh…everything is all right, sweetheart. Lay still and rest, okay? Dad and I are here.” She dabbed my eyes with the sleeve of her shirt.
As my father waltzed through the door with a glass of water, I recognized where I was. My surroundings suddenly became familiar and comforting. But how had I gotten here? The last thing I remembered was lying on the ground, rain falling gently on my cheeks, as the light of the world faded around me in the alleyway.
Dad propped up my head, laying the rim of the glass on my lips. “Take a sip, Mac.”
As I struggled to take a drink, I swallowed slowly, yelping in pain as it slid down the back of my parched throat. Every piece of my being hurt; I attempted to speak, to ask the millions of questions that were swirling through my head.
“Can…I please have some aspirin.” I said just above a whisper. I placed my hand upon my forehead, closing my eyes as I struggled to keep my composure. “How did I get here…home?”
Mom stroked my shoulder gently. “We received a phone call from the police around one in the morning two days ago, Macy. A woman found you lying on a park bench only two blocks from home, unconscious and unresponsive.”
I opened my eyes and focused on my mother’s solemn, scared face.
“Who did this to you? Who beat you? Do you remember, Macy?”
I did remember. He had warned me, his foul, hot breath speaking unforgiving threats into my ear. His eyes burned within my soul, as I recalled the blow of his fist into my side, the thrust of dark powers grinding me into the pavement as I lost consciousness.
“We spoke to Trey, Macy. He told us you left the restaurant before finishing dinner to tend to your Shomer. He swore that was the last time he saw you. As hard as it is to believe that boy, I don’t think he would ever hurt you. Touch you.” My father’s eyes were hardened and empty as he stared at me. His little girl had been beaten to a pulp, and not a single witness had come forward.
I shook my head no and glanced back at my mother. “Trey had nothing to do with this. And no, I don’t remember who it was that beat me. I don’t remember anything that night.” A blatant lie, but one that had to be told to safely harbor the mistake I had made. The promise I had forsaken as a Guardian. The curse of death I had handed to my Shomer…the man that I found I was falling, or perhaps had already fallen, hopelessly in love with.
*****
Thirteen days passed before I was able to summon myself out of bed. During my recovery, I had spent most of my time rehashing the violent details of Aaron. He remained a stranger still, but was a man whose face often surfaced within my dreams, leading to nightmares and constant fear of the unknown. I found it harder and harder to close my eyes, believing that he could swiftly steal away my life with the touch of his hand.
Evan’s spirit had been quiet. My Guardian symbol had remained still and lifeless; his heartbeat steady and smooth within my mind. He didn’t need me, and in a way, that wounded me deeply. I wanted him to summon me, to desire my presence even though I had endangered his life, the life that I had been given authority over to protect. As I thought of his foot hanging over the edge of the bridge that night, my wings unfolding to catch him, I scolded myself for following my heart instead of my intuition. It was as if he was deliberately staying out of trouble to avoid seeing me now.
Trey had come to visit me nearly every day as I recovered. Bouquets of fragrant flowers filled my bedroom, white roses with blooms as big as the sun, smiling at me, peeking their heads out from within a field of greenery and baby’s breath. Guilt loomed over my head as he fawned over me, kissing me gently on the nose, stroking my hair as he whispered sweet nothings in my ear. His feelings for me were confirmed and blatantly obvious; they were as genuine and as real as the moon and the stars that washed over the night sky. I had cheated on him…or had I? Were we an item? We had never really spoken openly about our relationship. I wrestled with the love triangle I was standing in the middle of. I wanted them both. Needed them both. Yet the one who filled my thoughts most often was the one who was sinful and forbidden.
Focusing my eyes on his, I smiled sweetly as he walked into my room. Gosh, he was so amazingly handsome. I sat up slowly, readjusting the pillows behind my back. The pain I felt within my ribs was now minimal, but it still hurt to make any sort of sudden movement.
Trey took a seat next to me on my bed, gently taking my hands in his. “How are you feeling today, Mac?” He brushed my hair over my ear, taking time to caress my cheek.
“Better. Much better,” I said kindly. I felt the rush of pink spread over my cheeks as I blushed. “I want to thank you again for being so kind to me, Trey. For all the gifts and the beautiful flowers. I really don’t think I could ever thank you enough.”
“Anything for my beautiful angel,” he said sweetly, kissing me lightly on my forehead.
Biting my lip, I looked down at our intertwined hands. I really liked Trey. How could I not? I was attracted to him; our spirits were incredibly similar. But deep down in the crevices of my heart I still longed for the love I knew I could never have, the tug of desire towards Evan.
Trey’s soft fingertips tipped my chin up, forcing my gaze to fall within his buttery eyes. “You okay, Mac? You’ve been so quiet these past few weeks. That’s not like you. What really happened out there?”
I longed to tell him the truth, how I had opened the world’s eyes to the secret facets of the Guardians in one swift move, letting my feelings show instead of my calling. But I let the notion pass quickly instead.
“I honestly don’t know what happened. I was walking home from the Brooklyn Bridge…”
“The Brooklyn Bridge? What were you doing there?” he said swiftly, concern bubbling within his eyes.
“I left dinner, my Shomer…he was there when I materialized. When the darkness faded and I reappeared, there he was…standing on the edge of the Brooklyn Bridge longing to…jump.”
I fidgeted in my bed, pulling my gaze away for a moment as I searched for the answers to what had happened to me after changing Evan’s mind. I would skip over the part of how I had shown my face, had spoken to Evan, and even kissed him passionately, knowing all too well every piece of it was completely wrong in the eyes of our society.
“I was walking home, it was raining…and that’s all I remember.”
Trey leaned in closely, speaking quietly as I strained to hear the words he was saying. “I know who did this to you, Mac.” He ran his fingers through my hair, his hot breath sweeping past my cheek, before leaning back and looking at me with hardened eyes.
The blood drained from my face as I felt my palms instantly become moist, the lump in my throat growing. I was a liar, a flat out illusive, disgusting liar, and he knew it.
“It was the Nightenbows,” he said flatly.
I shook my head. “Who are the Nightenbows?”
He swallowed hard, looking over his shoulder at my bedroom door before continuing. By his mannerisms, he was speaking of something that seemed forbidden or incredibly secret. “Those of the shadows, the ones who savor death.”
The puzzle pieces began to lock, and the realization of who I was and what I had done was becoming perfectly clear. “I still don’t understand, Trey. What would they want with me? Why have
I never heard their name spoken before?” I asked coyly.
“Because it is wrong to speak of them, for they are always listening. Death lurks within the shadows. They seek the lives of those that fail. Lost souls, those that seek self-indulgence, average individuals, and even Guardians who trip up or simply wish to flee the society despite their honorable vow. They especially love to grasp hold of a Shomer from the hands of the one who protects them. They want nothing more than to steal these wandering, hopeless souls for themselves.”
I pulled my hands from within his and rubbed my temples; an agonizing headache was beginning to brew and a dull throbbing began to spread across my forehead.
“Hey, we really should talk about this later. Somewhere else. The only reason I know about it is because I overhead a conversation between Baron Griland and Lord Harrison a few days ago.”
I wasn’t willing to talk about this later. I needed to know where my life was headed now. The questions that bled from within me needed an answer. I needed to know how to fix, to undo what I had done. “But if we’re supposed to protect our Shomers…ourselves from these devils, then why can’t we know about them? You know, to stop them?”
“Because they can’t be stopped, Macy. Your father…he knows.” Trey’s face was washed clean of any hint of emotion. His emerald eyes were now dark and drawn with anger, leaving me frightened and agitated as I sat in front of him.
“It isn’t safe, it has never been safe. But the Nightenbows are growing desperate and are going to extreme measures to leverage their grip on the souls of the world. The only way to do that is to…exterminate the Guardians, one by one. I just think you were an easy target being new and all. Your beating was a warning.”
As I watched his mouth move, the words falling effortlessly on my ears, the truth bore into my soul. The truth that not only had Aaron been watching me, he was waiting for me to fail. My trip up had been fast and hard, making me an easy find. My failure would allow Evan’s soul to slip into their shadows and my life to vanish beneath the soil to rot. I felt the vomit rise within my throat as beads of sweat swelled above my brow.
“They know our every move. There are no secrets with the Nightenbows, Macy.” His voice left my heart pounding and my eyes moist. I swallowed hard to fight back the tears.
A soft knock on my bedroom door tore my eyes from Trey’s face. “Sorry to bother you two, but Aria is here to see you, sweetheart.”
I smiled as despair crept quietly across the room, the maddening answers I still needed not spoken.
“I should go. You two should chat. I’ll call you later, okay?” Trey stood, kissing the top of my head before turning to leave.
“Aria, nice to see you,” he said coolly.
“You as well, Trey,” she replied before taking a seat on the edge of my bed, her eyes following his departure.
“I’ll leave you two alone. Just call if you need anything.” Mom shut my bedroom door, her footsteps growing quiet leaving the two of us alone.
“He’s really something, Macy. I mean he really seems to care about you. You are so lucky, you know that?” Her chestnut eyes sparkled. I knew that she had always been infatuated with Trey. Most of the young women of the Guardians were or had been at some point.
“Yeah, he’s really something,” I replied, a grin pulling at the corners of my lips.
“So tell me, is he as good of a kisser as I’ve heard?”
I rolled my eyes at her and laughed. “You may be my best friend, but this girl doesn’t kiss and tell…sorry.”
The conversation between the two of us remained lighthearted with no mention of what happened or who had beaten the crud out of me. She left my injuries, my suspicious beating on the sidelines. The distraction was nice as the sun faded and fell from the crimson sky.
After Aria left, the shadows crept across my bedroom floor; night hung her dark tapestry beautifully outside of my bedroom window. My head was swimming with a thousand thoughts; my soul was overflowing with waves of worry and self-doubt as I watched the stars sparkle aimlessly in the clear sky.
As I fell asleep, my dreams were filled with indescribable beauty. A long, crimson dress hugged my body tightly, my curves displayed ever so tastefully as his eyes wandered aimlessly over my figure. His hair was blowing ever so gently in the warm summer wind, black tapered pants and a white linen shirt unbuttoned at the top gave a subtle hint to the perfect chest that lay beneath it.
Taking his hand in mine, my wings outstretched, delicate white feathers washed the backdrop of the city as we swiftly flew to the top of the Statue of Liberty, away from the prying eyes of society and the rules that lay heavy on my shoulders. Taking a seat on the edge of her elegant crown, we watched the fireworks soar before us. His arm held me tightly as the illuminating bursts reflected off of his perfect features. This had to be what heaven felt like.
Leaning over, he said the sweetest words a woman could ever hear, “My life is your life. Marry me, Macy.”
My eyes tore away from the colorful images in front of us and stared intently at the seductive smile that spilled across his face instead. I ran my fingers through his locks and across his stubbled cheeks before kissing him ever so gently on the lips. “Yes, Evan. Yes…I’ll marry you.”
Chapter Ten
Summon
Finally, I heard his heartbeat…his signal of needing me. It had been over a month since last seeing him. As the drum of his being swept over me, desire overstepped its boundaries. My mark seethed with scorching heat as I walked out of the coffee shop on Broadway and into the alleyway, away from the scores of morning commuters. As I stepped into the depths of absence, images of his fist, his nauseating breath, sent my stomach churning. I hadn’t been alone in weeks, allowing fear to grasp my wrists tightly as I glanced in all directions for any sign of him. I knew Aaron was watching me, even from a distance. But I had to do this despite the pit of fear that grew within my belly.
“Get a grip, Macy.” I pushed myself forward with valid reassurance that I was alone. My breath was quick as I closed my eyes and sped forward through the fog-filled blackness, dematerializing with rapid speed as I felt my body being twisted from the inside out. Moments later, I found myself standing alone in the shadows, watching his pen scribble words onto a blank sheet of paper. It was obvious that I was within the confines of his apartment, as I slid down the wall, taking a seat on my heels. I watched the golden shimmer of his soul spinning an intricate web around his figure. It was stronger, more beautiful this time, my eyes taking in every ounce of its delicacy.
His eyes rose, as I remained silent and hidden from sight despite my sincere desire to walk over to him, sit down, and talk intimately about life. Setting his pen down, he stood up from his chair and walked into the living room, scanning his apartment for signs of life, her life…my life.
“I know you are here, angel. Where are you?”
His voice left me breathless as I felt myself rise up, remaining a piece of the backdrop, vowing to remain unseen by his captivating eyes. He haunted my dreams, making my insides tingle with desire whenever I thought of his face. Standing in front of him now made me want him even more.
Moving swiftly to where he stood, I found myself only inches away from the heat that radiated from his body. Oh, how I longed to feel his skin beneath my fingertips, his lips on mine once more.
He seemed to sense my presence, his eyes closing and the words falling relentlessly from his mouth, causing waves of rapture to stir deep within. “I long to see you again, Macy. That’s why I have brought you here. Only this time, I didn’t summon you here to save me, but to show me that what I feel is real.”
My hand rose to his lips, the fever of his longing touching the ends of my fingertips. As desperate as I was to allow him to witness reality, to speak of the dreams that floated through my head each night, I watched my hand fall away. It wasn’t right; perhaps I wasn’t right. Allowing my feelings to even surface was utterly wrong. But my hunger grew, and I longed to fall within
his arms. I needed him, wanted him like no other.
His soft eyes opened slowly, stinging the inner pieces of my soul, and he sighed in regret at not seeing his angel standing before him. He longed to embrace me once more, and I longed to embrace him as well. Yet in this lifetime, my touch was only meant to be as a savior, not a seductive reply. This left me hollow as I faded fast from his presence and back into the world of who I was meant to be. I stood within the dank alleyway alone and saddened, deciding to trudge home, guilt tugging at my heartstrings.
Chapter Eleven
Convene
“What do you mean, a meeting? With who?” My tone was somewhat high-pitched and uncertain as I laid my fork down and fell back against my chair.
“There are things you need to know…should know about us, Macy. We have reason to believe someone…” I watched my father glance over at my mother; she nodded her head in agreement before he continued. “A group of individuals are against the Guardians, and although we never speak of them, it’s time to come together as a society to stop them.”
I knew exactly whom my father was speaking of, causing a shudder of terror to dig itself deep within the facets of my mind. Trey and I had spoken of them only once, neither of us finding the time or perhaps the courage to speak their name again. All I knew was that they longed to flush the world clean of our kind, but the secret would remain safely hidden within, as I listened to the words of my father intently.
“Mac, you’ve always wondered what your dear old dad has done all these years. When you’d ask about my job, well…I always pushed the matter aside. There’s a reason for that. You’ll learn the meaning behind my secrecy later.” His face grew serious, and he took a swig of his bourbon.