by Cheree Alsop
“Because I love you.”
Her reply took everything from me. I could only stare down at her, lost in her beautiful green gaze. I willed myself to breathe, to reply, “Y-you, you what?” I was finally able to ask.
She gave me a smile so sweet my tears broke free. “I love you, Reece.”
I shook my head, trying and failing entirely to believe it. I didn’t deserve such happiness, such beauty, and such grace. She was so far beyond what I was that I couldn’t wrap my mind around her words. “Why?” I whispered.
She set a hand on my cheek. I closed my eyes and put my hand on hers, keeping it there. “Because you’re amazing, Reece.”
I shook my head without opening my eyes, afraid of the tears that continued to fall, revealing how she had taken my heart and left me bare. “I’m not, Ava. I’m nobody.”
“That’s not true.” When I didn’t answer, she said my name. “Reece?”
I would never tire of hearing the sound from her lips. I took a shuddering breath and willed my eyes to open. She looked up at me with such love it was all I could do to meet her gaze. “I’m yours, Reece,” she said.
After all she had told me, the words meant more than I love you. I pulled her close and buried my face in her hair that smelled of vanilla and lavender. “I love you so much my heart would break if I didn’t say it,” I told her. “I think of you every moment of every day. I want to keep you safe and make sure you’re happy. You deserve every joy in life, and I will do my best to make sure you have it.”
Her arms wrapped tightly around me. I returned the embrace. Her chin tipped up and I kissed her. She was my everything. I would never be the same, and I was glad.
Chapter Thirteen
When we returned arm in arm through the door, students scrambled to get away from the windows. I realized the window closest to the porch swing had been open.
“Why don’t you say beautiful stuff like that to me, Brian?” Alice demanded.
The quarterback threw me a bewildered glance; I was starting to suspect that was the way he usually looked around the head cheerleader.
“You two are so romantic,” Emily gushed. Ava smiled at her as a beautiful blush ran across the female Galdoni’s cheeks.
I called to Alice, “Thanks for inviting us to your party. We’ve got to get going.”
She ran over and gave us each a hug. Seth looked perfectly content to stay sitting on a kitchen stool with Sam on his lap forever. I had never seen him happier. I waved and he returned the gestured. “Good for you,” I mouthed. He grinned in response.
Ava and I walked together to the front door. Alice and the other cheerleaders along with the friends we had made at the party called goodbyes and wishes to get together soon. We lingered at the bottom of the front steps, reluctant to leave. It was the beautiful end to an amazing day.
“Look out!” someone shouted from the lawn, jerking me back to reality. Screams followed.
My heart skipped a beat at the sight of four Galdoni landing on the grass. My muscles tensed, ready to defend those I cared about. I pulled Ava behind me for safety.
“Call nine-one-one,” I shouted over my shoulder.
Screams went up as students realized what was happening.
“Give us the girl and nobody gets hurt,” a Galdoni with thick black wings said.
“You aren’t getting past me,” I replied, standing at the base of the stairs.
“You better just leave if you know what’s good for you, boy,” the black-winged Galdoni growled.
“I was going to say the same thing to you,” I replied in the same tone.
A blond-haired Galdoni with gauntlets laughed. “We’re going to enjoy this.”
“Go into the house,” I said to Ava. She turned and ran up the stairs.
A brown-winged Galdoni jumped in her way.
“Leave her alone,” Seth yelled from the porch.
“Yeah,” a dozen other students shouted.
The Galdoni looked back in surprise. I dove at him, barreling him over with the distraction. Ava ran past the Galdoni into Alice’s arms. I glanced up in time to see the girls help her into the house. The football players barred the way so the Galdoni couldn’t follow.
I gasped as gauntlets drove into my ribs. I turned with the blow and pulled the Galdoni into my fist. He stumbled backwards. The hiss of a sword through the air met my ears. I ducked and spun, knocking the legs out from the armed Galdoni. I lashed out with a haymaker when I completed the spin, slamming it into the jaw of the blond Galdoni.
“You’ll pay for that, kid,” a Galdoni growled.
Pain flared along my side when the sword struck home. I bit back a cry and kicked the kneeling Galdoni in the head. He fell over with a yell of pain. I could feel blood seeping from the wound. I blocked a punch, answered with another one that was also blocked, ducked under a kick, then jumped and used my wings to spin me in a tight kick that connected with the gauntleted Galdoni’s head. He fell to the ground.
“I’ve had enough of this,” the black-winged Galdoni growled. He attacked with a set of knives. I stumbled back under the onslaught.
“Reece!” Seth yelled.
I glanced up in time to see him throw a fireplace poker in my direction. I caught it out of the air and turned back, using my momentum the way Lem had taught me to increase the power of my swing. The blow caught the black-winged Galdoni’s arm with a loud crack. He yelled and dropped one of the knives. I was about to grab it when the Galdoni with the sword stumbled over to us, his blade wavering in the air.
“Kill him!” the black-winged Galdoni shouted, clutching his broken arm to his side.
The command seemed to ignite a fire under the other three. They attacked in a group. Though I could tell my blows had shaken them, they were ferocious and relentless. I was pushed back to the steps as I blocked punch after punch and ducked another swipe of the sword intended to take off my head.
“Reece!” Ava yelled.
I looked up in time to see the black-winged Galdoni’s hand come down. Something hit my shoulder so hard I stumbled back on the steps. I stared at the knife protruding from the right side of my chest.
Adrenaline pounded through my veins. I let out a yell and gripped the fire poker with my left hand. I parried a swipe of the sword, then drove the poker into the first Galdoni’s stomach. I blocked a kick with my right forearm and slammed the poker into the next Galdoni’s ribs. I fought to breathe. Black spots danced in my vision. I ignored them. Ava’s safety and the safety of the students behind me were at stake. The Galdoni wouldn’t get through me.
“Reece, look out!” Randy shouted from the porch.
I turned in time to block a kick from the black-winged Galdoni. I punched his broken arm. He let out a yell of rage and slammed his fist into the knife protruding from my shoulder. My knees gave out at the pain and I fell to the grass. Two Galdoni jumped on me.
“Reece!” Ava cried.
I heard the pounding of footsteps as students raced down the stairs to my rescue. They would be killed. There was no doubt about that. The thought gave me the strength to act. I kicked and sent the first Galdoni flying over my head. When I rolled to my hands and knees, the other Galdoni pinned me.
My body used the muscle memory from my practice with Lem. I grabbed the Galdoni’s left hand and rammed my shoulder against him, throwing him onto his back. I rolled across him to a crouched position and drove two haymakers into his jaw. I followed up with a two-fisted slam to the chest that brought a yell of pain from me and broke at least a few of his ribs, if not his sternum. I left the Galdoni gasping on the ground.
The blonde Galdoni and the black-winged one were charging up the stairs after the students and Ava. I gathered what strength I had left and dove into the air. It about killed me to bring my wings down with the knife through my shoulder, but the force propelled me forward. I landed on the step just ahead of the Galdoni.
“Leave them alone,” I growled.
The fury in my voice ch
ecked both of them in their tracks. They glanced at each other.
“We have our orders,” the black-winged Galdoni barked at his comrade.
Sirens sounded in the distance. For the first time, fear showed on both Galdoni’s faces. I wondered what waited for them if they were brought in.
“Next time, you won’t be the only casualty,” the black-winged Galdoni threatened.
“I’ll be ready,” I replied calmly as though I wasn’t on the verge of collapse.
He grabbed the brown-haired Galdoni under the arms. The blonde Galdoni picked up the one with the sword. “Let’s move,” the black-winged Galdoni commanded. They took off into the night sky.
My knees gave out. Students rushed forward and caught me. They eased me down onto the steps.
“Reece,” Ava said, kneeling beside me. “We’ve got to get you to the hospital.”
“I’m alright,” I protested weakly. “We’ve got to get back to the Center. Kale needs to know what happened.”
“You’re in no shape to fly,” she said, her voice shaking.
I gritted my teeth and stood back up. Silence and a hundred anxious faces watched me. I met Brian’s gaze. “Can you make sure everyone gets home safely?” I asked the quarterback.
“I will,” he promised.
I turned to Seth. He watched me with concern bright in his eyes. “When the cops show up, give them this.” I pulled the knife from my shoulder. It had seemed like a good idea at the time, but the pain that pulsed from the wound and the blood that started to flow said I probably should have left it there. I handed him the knife and gave him a weak smile. “More benefits of being my friend?”
“It just keeps getting better,” he replied, his eyebrows pulled together worriedly. “You gonna be okay?”
I nodded. “Galdoni were made to bleed, remember?”
I raised my wings. It hurt more than I wanted to admit. Ava stood beside me, her green eyes bright with unshed tears. “Tell the cops everything,” I instructed the students who watched us. “They’ll make sure you’re safe. If Officer Donaldson gets here, let him know Kale is going to need to talk to him.” Several nods followed my words.
Students huddled against each other. Boyfriends held girlfriends in protective embraces, girls clutched each other’s hands, and boys stood in groups. It ate at me that they probably would have had a fun evening of partying if we hadn’t shown up. I glanced at Ava and saw the same sadness on her face.
“Let’s go,” I said quietly. I forced my wings down and rose into the sky. I lifted a hand in farewell. A hundred hands responded. We turned our wings and headed toward the Galdoni Center.
“Think they’ll be safe?” Ava asked.
“They’re safer without us there,” I replied. The black spots in my vision were growing. I couldn’t think past a humming sound that filled my mind.
“Reece? Reece!” Ava shouted. She grabbed my arm and pulled me up in time for me to miss slamming into a rooftop.
I forced myself to focus, pushing all of my energy into flying. Ava kept a tight hold on my arm. By the time we reached the Center, her touch was all that kept me in the air.
I crash landed on the third floor balcony. Ava put her hand to the print reader. I could barely lift my head to see tears streaming down her face. The door buzzed open.
“Help!” she called. “Anyone, please help me!”
I heard footsteps running toward us, then female voices spoke. I recognized Skylar’s among them. She knelt down next to me. “Reece, can you hear me?”
I forced my eyes open. “Tell Kale Donaldson needs the knife,” I mumbled.
Skylar’s brow creased with worry. “Reece, I don’t know what you mean. We need to get you to Dr. Ray. Can you stand?”
I shook my head, unable to even think about the effort it would take to do so.
Heavier footsteps ran toward us. The door was pushed open. Light flooded out. I squinted and relief flooded me at the sight of Kale and Saro. Kale dropped to his knees next to me. “Reece, what happened?” he asked, checking me over quickly. When his hands came away damp with blood, his face paled. “Get Dr. Ray,” he called.
“He’s here,” Skylar replied breathlessly, running back to the door.
Dr. Ray pushed through to the balcony and knelt next to Kale.
“He’s losing blood fast,” Kale told the doctor.
“Carry him to a bed,” Dr. Ray ordered.
I gritted my teeth, but a yell escaped me anyway when Kale and Saro picked me up as gently as they could.
“I’m so sorry,” Kale apologized as they settled me on the bed Skylar hurriedly pushed over.
Dr. Ray pulled back my shirt to reveal the wound in my shoulder. I could feel the warm blood flowing down my arm.
“His side,” Ava said, her voice tight. “One of the Galdoni had a sword.”
“Galdoni?” Kale repeated in shock.
Ava’s reply was drowned out by the humming sound. I watched Dr. Ray’s eyes widen when he moved the shirt from my side. He called out orders, but I couldn’t hear them.
Saro knelt by the bed. He was speaking, his gaze on my face. I tried to hear him, but I was too far gone. The dark spots in my vision grew bigger until I couldn’t see him anymore. My world filled with silent night.
Chapter Fourteen
A steady beeping sound awoke me. I was aware of oxygen rushing into my nose in a steady, cool stream. I tried to remember where I was and what had happened. Everything was a blur. I remembered a pool, swimming through water as if it was air. There had been laughter, followed by screams. My eyes flew open.
“Ava!” I called, sitting up. I gasped at the pain that flared so strong through my shoulder and side I couldn’t breathe.
Strong hands eased me back down. When the pain diminished, I was able to focus on the face above me. Kale gave me a concerned smile. “Ava’s safe. You’ve got to take it slow.”
I shook my head. The movement made the room spin. “But the Galdoni. . . .”
Kale nodded. “They got away, but you protected the students. The other Galdoni from the school has awoken and is in interrogation. We’ll find them.”
“Is Ava safe?” I asked, unable to push past the thought of her in trouble and afraid. There were too many Galdoni. They were so strong. I tried to force my mind to focus.
“She’s at school,” Kale said. When I tried to sit up again, he held me down with one hand on my chest. It shouldn’t have been so easy. “Trust me,” he said. “She’s okay. I doubled security at Crosby High and Lem’s in charge of her safety. She’ll be okay.”
Kale’s cellphone rang.
“They won’t hesitate to hurt students,” I said as he answered it. “They said there would be more casualties—”
Kale’s face washed pale. He rose quickly. “I’ve got to go. Stay here,” he said before he ran out of the room.
Ava. It could only mean Ava was in trouble. The thought propelled me to action. Every movement hurt. I clenched my jaw and sat up; the pain through my side forced a cry from between my gritted teeth. I pulled the IV from my arm and removed the oxygen tube from my nose. By the time I stood, the world was reeling again.
I found my clothes folded neatly on a chair in the corner. I eased out of the hospital gown and put them on with the least amount of pain I could manage. The thought of Ava in trouble spurred me on. It hurt too much to pull on my socks, so I left them and slipped my feet into my sneakers.
I glanced down the hall. There was nobody in sight. Something really bad must have happened. I ran for the balcony, pulled the door open, and fell over the edge.
I should have thought it through a bit better. My wing didn’t want to respond with the swelling in my shoulder. I plummeted toward the ground. Three stories sure went by quickly. A yell tore from my lips as I forced my wings to move. They caught the wind. Tears filled my eyes at the pain. I swooped low over the grass and pushed down. The wind carried me above the trees.
I don’t know how I made it to the
school. I nearly ran into the doors and shoved them open with my good shoulder. Mrs. Jeffrey was gone from the front desk. Adrenaline filled my veins. I ran down the hall toward Ava’s English class. When I yanked the door open, twenty-six pairs of eyes turned to me. I spotted Ava on the far row. Relief hit me like a wall.
“Reece!” she said, rising. She looked at Alice. They both stared back at me in shock. “Reece, what’s going on?”
“We’ve got to go,” I said past the pain-muddled fog that filled my thoughts.
Ava apologized to Mrs. Simmons and hurried out the door. Alice came with her.
“Reece, how are you even here?” Alice asked.
I shook my head. “Something’s wrong at the Center. Ava’s not safe. We’ve got to leave.”
Alice nodded at Ava. “You’d better get going.” The head cheerleader touched my arm. “Be careful, Reece. You’ve been through so much.”
“Thank you, Alice,” I replied, touched by her concern.
Ava ducked under my good shoulder as if she could tell I was moments away from collapsing. We hurried back up the hall. “What’s going on?” Ava asked, her voice tight with worry.
I shook my head. “I don’t know, but whatever it was sent Kale running to help.” I looked down at her and my steps slowed. “I thought it was you. I thought. . . .”
“I’m alright,” Ava reassured me as if she knew how badly I needed to hear the words.
I could barely get my mind to believe it; everything was wrong. I couldn’t concentrate.
“Reece, I’m okay.” Ava stood on her tiptoes and kissed me.
Strength flooded me at her touch. I kissed her back, letting her feel the relief that flooded me at seeing her unharmed. I stepped back and caught her hand in mine. “Let’s go.”