“Come in while I change into fresh clothes. Then, I will take you home.”
I followed him into the mansion through a massive wooden door that reminded me of the door on the island cottage only more ornate. Suddenly, I stopped in front of the door. The same ancient writing that I had seen etched on a sword in my nightmares was engraved into Zell’s front door. Gently, I traced the letters with my fingers.
“What is this writing?” I asked turning to Zell.
“It is Aramaic,”
“What does it say?”
“It is a quote from the Bible.”
“What is the quote?” I asked softly.
“Proverbs 18:10. ‘The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.’”
I smiled at his words running my fingertips over the writing.
“Lovely,” I whispered, and then turned as if drawn by the beauty of his home. It took my breath away. Someone had a fire burning in a massive marble fireplace, and beautiful music drifted throughout the house. The lamps were on giving the room a soft glow. The firelight flickered off warm, wooden vaulted ceilings. There were only windows on two sides of the house. The back and left side butted up against a stone bluff. I thought it very strange. There was plenty of room to build in front of the house. It wasn’t necessary for anyone to build into the bluff. It reminded me of a fortress. Then it hit me. It was a fortress! Zell built the house into the stone face of the bluff to prevent anyone from coming in on those sides. He only had to defend himself on two sides.
I wandered around the immaculate living and dining rooms picking up artifacts that looked to be thousands of years old. One was a stone tablet sitting on a sofa table on an ornate easel. The writing on the tablet was the same as the writing engraved on the door. About that time, Zell entered the room in a pair of off-white jeans, leather sandals, and a loose-fitting yellow, silk shirt. The sun from our swim gave his skin and hair a beautiful glow. His silver eyes sparkled against the bronze of his skin. He was breathtaking. Any girl in her right mind would love to have him as her own. Why was I holding on to Jon when this magnificent creature was clearly interested in me? I wanted to run to him and throw myself in his arms, but I resisted the impulse and instead asked him to drive me home.
“Certainly,” Zell replied coolly.
In the car on the ride to my house, Zell asked what time he should pick me up for the cookout at Lauren’s lake house.
“I’m going with Jon. I have already promised him,” I stated hesitantly.
“Annie, that’s not wise,” Zell looked and sounded very concerned.
“Nonsense,” I retorted sharply.
“Very well,” Zell answered as if he knew arguing with me would not get him anywhere. “But know this, I will not be far from you if you need me or desire to change your date for the evening.” Zell turned and gazed at me warmly. The smile that slowly spread across his face was dazzling. His smile made me wish that he was my date for the evening.
“About last night, everything after dinner is kind of fuzzy, but if I was out of line, I apologize. I think I dreamed of the death of my mother, and when I awoke, all of those pent-up emotions seemed to take over. Your kiss is responsible for the fuzziness of my memory, I guess. I can only remember bits and pieces, but I’m sorry. I’m don't regret that I kissed you. I only regret is that it got out of hand. It was totally my fault not yours.
Zell walked me to the door and without touching me he whispered, “No worries. Until later.”
Zell drove me from school in my car, and that is the car in which he now drove me home. “How are you getting home?” I asked perplexed.
“Annie, really?” Zell laughed taking off his shirt, popping out his wings, and taking off like a rocket.
“Zell, the neighbors . . .” I yelled into the air, but he was gone.
A couple of hours later, Jon rang the doorbell. Dr. Hayes, my father, answered the door. Dad looked every bit the intellectual that he was. His short crew cut hair stuck out in all directions. Smoky blue eyes that I inherited from him were framed in round, horn-rimmed spectacles. Speaking softly, he greeted Jon at the door.
“Good evening, Jon.”
“Good evening, Dr. Hayes,” Jon answered absently looking around the room for me.
“Annie will be right down. Won’t you have a seat?” my father invited.
As if on cue, I swept into the room and kissed my father on the cheek.
“Good night, Dad. I won’t be late.”
“Have a good time sweetheart, and please be careful,” Dad admonished. His daughter seemed to have a knack for finding adventure and that fact worried him immensely.
I thought if he only knew the unbelievable events of the last few days, he would have a stroke.
Jon opened the door for me, and we stepped out into the night air.
“You look amazing,” Jon told me as we walked to his Dodge truck. At the truck, he tried to kiss me before I climbed in, but I deftly avoided his kiss and hopped into the passenger side of the truck.
“Thanks, you look nice too.”
Jon hesitated for a moment swinging the passenger door back and forth with his right hand while his left arm was propped up on the roof of his truck. He opened his mouth and then closed it. I knew he was angry because I avoided his kiss. He decided against saying anything, and he slammed the door and stalked around to the driver’s side.
My thoughts, however, were on Zell. Would he wear what he had on when he dropped me off this afternoon? I hoped so. It was the perfect attire for a lake house cookout. Thinking about what Zell had worn this afternoon, I had also dressed in an off-white jean skirt, a yellow sleeveless sweater, and silver sandals. My hair was clean and shiny, pulled back with a thin silver headband that showed off the tan my face had received at the island earlier that day. It was still too early in the season at the lake to have a tan. I worried that Zell and I would stick out like sore thumbs with the tan we both had received today at the beach on his island in the middle of the ocean hundreds of miles south from here. It was still unbelievable, and I could not get my mind off Zell and the events of the last few days. I tried to think of something to say to Jon, but I was overwhelmed by the prospect that there may be dark creatures who hunt me, and a lone Zell to protect me.
Why was I here with Jon? I could not keep my thoughts from wandering to Zell. I had only known him for a few days, but I felt as though there were a bond between us that was timeless. I turned my head in the truck to look at Jon and caught him staring at me strangely. The look in his eyes gave me the oddest sensation.
“What are you thinking about?”
“You,” he replied. “You seem different somehow.”
“Really, how so?”
“I don’t know, but it’s as if your thoughts are miles away, not here with me.”
I laughed, “That’s silly.” However, I turned away from him to look out the window into the night afraid that he would see on my face that things were indeed different, inescapably so. Somewhere Zell was out there. Was he close by? He said that he would not be far away if I needed him or wanted to change my date for the evening. I was beginning to want that. I wanted Zell to be my date. I was beginning to want Zell to be my life.
“Stop it!” I yelled.
“What?” Jon yelled back slamming on the brakes. In confusion, he turned to look at me. “What was that all about?”
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t talking to you. I was talking to myself. I was thinking of something else,” I replied embarrassed.
“You about gave me a heart attack. I thought I was about to have a wreck!” Jon yelled at me, then revved the engine, popped the clutch with a violent jerk, and began to drive again.
What an idiot I am! I was thinking about Zell while I’m with Jon, and then almost vocalized that fact. Dumb. Dumb. Dumb. I thought I heard laughter and turned to look out the back window of the truck. He was out there laughing at me. I could feel him near. My embarrassment turned to ange
r quickly. I slid across the seat next to Jon and laid my head against his arm as he drove. I smiled smugly. Take that Zell!
Jon turned to look at me next to him with a puzzled look on his face.
“What is up with you tonight, Annie? First, you’re yelling at me to stop, and all I am doing is driving. Then you slide across the seat and snuggle up against me. Something that you never do. You have avoided my every touch for days. What gives?” Jon asked.
“I’ve just missed you?” I guessed scrambling for an excuse.
“Excuse me if I don’t quite swallow that. Who is this new guy who claims to be your boyfriend?” Jon demanded.
“His name is Zell Starr.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know that. He introduced himself in class remember?”
“Oh yeah,” I said sheepishly.
“Who is he?” Jon demanded louder this time emphasizing the he.
“Just a friend,” I answered innocently.
“Who claims to be your boyfriend,” Jon returned jealously.
“He is just exaggerating. We are only friends, and I have told him that,” I said turning red with embarrassment as I thought about last night and how I had kissed him when he woke me from my nightmare, or was it the nightmare? My life and my nightmares were becoming so entangled that I could not tell the difference.
“He looks like he believes you two are a couple.”
“We are definitely not a couple.”
“I’ll take care of him,” Jon ground out smugly. “If he shows up tonight, I’m going to tell him to stay away from you. If that doesn’t give him the message, these will,” he boasted holding up both fists.
“You will not, Jonathan Howard. He is my friend too.” I panicked at the thought of Jon even trying to ‘take care of’ Zell. Zell would kill him. I didn’t even think it would be much of a fight. “Please Jonny, promise me you won’t say anything to him.”
“No, I won’t promise,” Jon insisted.
“Jon, if you say anything to Zell, I promise that I will never, and I mean never, speak to you or see you again,” I threatened.
“You like this guy, don’t you,” Jon asked turning to look at me.
“Watch the road, Jon,” I demanded. “It’s just that Zell is my friend too. I don’t want to lose either of you.”
“You can’t have us both, Annie. You have to choose,” Jon gave me an ultimatum.
“That’s not fair!”
“Maybe not, but that’s how it is. Decide Annie. It’s the overgrown immigrant or me.”
“O.K.,“ I said gritting my teeth. “I choose . . . I choose neither of you.” Jon stopped in front of Lauren’s lake house, and I jumped from the truck and slammed the door. The house was lit up welcoming and inviting, but I ducked around the side of the house heading for the sound of laughter coming from the back. I stopped suddenly. I felt like I did the night of . . . the night of . . . The night of what? This was getting infuriating. Why couldn’t I remember? Some memory was there just out of my reach. Maybe it was so terrifying that my mind would not let me remember. Nevertheless, something was in the woods to my right. I could feel it watching me. I picked up speed and ran toward the spotlights in the backyard. As I turned the corner of the house, I turned and watched the woods for the unknown predator that I was sure lurked there.
Thud. I felt like I hit a brick wall. Looking up, I saw Zell staring down at me.
“Watch where you are going! You stay away from me too!” I yelled at him and instantly felt bad for speaking to him that way. I was too rattled to be with him right now though, and I stepped around him to find Lauren and Kate. I saw Kate in the gazebo on the other side of the pool and hurried to her.
“Annie, what’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” said Kate worriedly.
“Nah, just an Anak,” I replied.
“A what?” asked Kate.
I laughed, “Nothing Kate. Jon and I just had a fight that’s all.”
“What about?”
“What else? My new boyfriend, Zell, which traveled here from Europe to be with me.”
“Yeah, I’m mad about that, Annie. You never told me that you met someone in Europe.”
“I didn’t tell you because I didn’t meet him in Europe,” I said my voice low and quivering.
“I’m lost,” Kate replied.
“I never met Zell until Wednesday morning in the school office. I don’t know what’s going on,” I grabbed the water Kate was drinking and drank from the bottle.
“I’m still confused. Why would anyone as gorgeous as Zell lie about knowing you?”
“He says he is here to protect me,” I whispered furtively looking about.
“Protect you from what?”
“The Dark Ones, can you believe that?”
“What’s a Dark One?” Kate asked puzzled.
“Vampires, werewolves, demons, Fallen Angels, some incognito, of course, et cetera,” I whispered shaking my head and lowering my voice even further searching every shadow for a monster.
Kate howled with laughter then suddenly stopped as the events of the evening at the gym a few days ago came vividly back into focus.
“You’re scaring me, Annie,” Kate whispered back.
“Huh, you’re scared. I’m beginning to believe him. Weird things have been happening in the last few days. I think something may be after me.”
“Annie, you’re being ridiculous,” Kate scolded.
“Maybe, maybe not. I’m not sure of anything right now. All I know is that something strange is going on.”
“Are you sure Zell is who he says he is? Do you think he might be behind all this?” Kate asked.
“I’m pretty sure he is different, really different,” I replied drinking the last of the water.
“Different? You’re right about that. He is the most handsome person I’ve ever seen. If you don’t want him, can I have him?” Kate gushed.
“Yeah, he’s a real angel alright.” I growled pacing back and forth.
Someone brought out a guitar, and Rylee asked Zell to play. A crowd gathered around him. Savanna, Maddison, Whitney, the lovely LeeAnn, Rylee, Lauren, Natalie, Kenzley, Holly, in fact, most of the girls at the party sat at his feet. Zell leaned against a low stone wall and began strumming the guitar. Most guys stood at the fringes of the crowd scowling. All their girlfriends were at Zell’s feet totally focused on him. Zell began to play beautifully. Someone yelled out a song and instantly Zell changed the tune to the requested song. Time and again, he did this. It was amazing. He never left out a note or broke the rhythm of the song. Even the guys began to be mesmerized by his ability.
Zell stopped for a moment and looked at me. Then he began to sing a beautiful love song, never once taking his eyes from my face. I could feel the strong emotions from last night wash over me. I’ve never lost a struggle once I set my mind to something, but this was one battle that I was losing fast. The beautiful song he sang, “My Destiny” seemed as though it had been written for us.
“From now until eternity,
You were always meant to be,
My destiny”
Zell sang through the song a couple of times never taking his eyes off me. He finished and handed the guitar back to Lauren. His female audience stood to their feet applauding and squealing like little school girls. Zell still focused on me, stood up, and started in my direction. Savanna grabbed his arm and tried to get him to stay with her. Ever the gentleman, Zell leaned over and whispered something in her ear removing her hand from his arm as he did so. He headed for me again. Just as he rounded the pool, Jon popped up as if from thin air.
“Annie, I’m sorry,” Jon began. It was all I could do to tear my eyes from Zell and attempt to focus on Jon.
“Oh, the drama,” Kate said giggling. “Annie, your love life is actually getting interesting. Way to go girl.”
Jon threw a deadly look in Kate’s direction and grabbed my hand dragging me from the gazebo.
“Let’s go somewhere, so we can speak
in private,” Jon huffed still glaring at Kate.
“No, Jon, I can’t.” I resisted, but Jonny pulled me along anyway. Behind him, I could see the crowd catch up to Zell, and he paused staring at us grimacing when he saw Jon grab my hand. Jon dragged me down toward the shore of the lake.
Lauren’s dad had made a beach out of their property that ran along the lake. He had truckloads of sand brought in and dredged out the bottom of the lake near the shoreline to create a smooth and safe beach. Her dad, Chuck, was one of the big wigs at Turner Broadcasting. He was very wealthy, and Lauren had him wrapped around her finger. What Lauren wanted; Lauren got. There was a dock with a diving board, a speedboat, a half-dozen Sea Doos, little paddlewheel boats, and canoes all housed under a covered dock that ran a couple of hundred feet in an L shape into the lake. Even so, I didn’t think even Chuck’s wealth could equal Zell’s.
Torches were lit all along the shore and gas lamps lit the docks. Big comfortable chairs for lounging or sunbathing were scattered over the beach, and Jon pulled me toward a couple of them. I sat down on one of the overstuffed chairs, and Jon sat opposite me.
“Annie, I’m sorry. I don’t want to break up with you,” he began.
“We don’t go together. We’re just friends,” I huffed as I interrupted him.
“I want to change that Annie. I want you to be my girl,” Jon begged pulling off his senior ring and holding it out for me to take. I suddenly shivered uncontrollably. Goose bumps stood at full attention on my arms and neck. Jon noticed me shivering.
“I’ll run to the truck and get your jacket,” Jon said and jumped up running toward the house before I could tell him not to bother.
Back at the pool, Zell watched as Jon pulled me toward the beach. Anger burned within him, but before he could react, a hand once again grabbed his arm and locked around it. It was LeeAnn. Lee Ann was beautiful. The moonlight and the soft lights of the backyard area softened her features making her even more attractive.
Dark Angel (Anak Trilogy) Page 10