Overshadow

by Brea Essex

  I went back inside and slid into my seat. Turning slightly, I put my back to the wall so I could try to observe Logan and Sera. Unfortunately, they noticed.

  Sera wandered over to me. “Problem?”

  “No, no problem. Just ignore me.”

  “Oh, we plan on it.”

  I snorted. “Oh please! There is no ‘we’.”

  She leaned down so that her face was close to mine. “You’re right, there is no ‘we’, as in no you and Logan. There is a ‘we’ as in Logan and me. You’re just going to have to face the fact that you lost. He’s mine now. Deal with it.”

  I stood up so abruptly that she had to step back and almost fell. “Look, you psycho. I haven’t lost yet. I don’t know what you did to him, but trust me, I’m going to fix it.”

  By now everyone in the classroom was openly staring, including our teacher who had just entered the room. “Ms. Davenport, is there a problem?”

  Why did everyone think I had a problem today? Oh that’s right, because I did. My boyfriend was under some crazy spell. I couldn’t tell her that though. Then everyone would think I was crazy.

  “No, Mrs. Eden,” I answered. “Just getting to know our new student.”

  She looked skeptical, but I think she bought it. “Very well. Have a seat. Ms. Morgan, since you’re already standing… Class, we have a new student. Say hello to Serafina.”

  A weak chorus of “hellos” replied. Sera looked smug as she made her way back to her seat… next to my Logan. I was busy cursing them in my mind and didn’t hear what Mrs. Eden asked me next.

  “Ms. Davenport!” she called, snapping me out of my internal monologue of nasty names for Sera that I was running through.

  “Yes?” I answered.

  “If you’re not going to pay attention, might I suggest that you visit the principal’s office?”

  “Sorry, Mrs. Eden,” I mumbled. “I’ll pay better attention.”

  She gave me one more stern look and returned to her lecture.

  I turned my attention to my notebook. I started pretending to take notes, but I ended up drawing instead.

  When class let out, I stood to gather my books. I was bumped — more like shoved — from behind and promptly dropped everything I was holding.

  “Oops.” Sera laughed.

  I clenched a fist. I wanted to strike that smug look from her face. I could do it. Logan had taught me well.

  Logan. I looked at him, standing next to her. He made no motion to help me. In fact, he was laughing with her. “You’re even worse than you were,” I told him.

  He raised an eyebrow. “Raena, I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m the same person I always was.”

  “No, you’re not. You were never this mean, this selfish! Even when you were being a jerk, I always knew you were kidding. Even then, you had good moments. I don’t know who you are now.”

  “Why does it matter to you anyway? It’s not like we’ve ever been friends.”

  I shut my eyes briefly against the tears that were threatening to spill over. “We were once. We were more. You’ll remember eventually. I guess I just have to be patient.”

  He sighed. “There’s nothing to remember.”

  “Yes, there is. Just wait.” I finished picking up my things and walked out the door.

  I couldn’t stay at school. No way could I handle seeing them together. I went into the office and claimed I didn’t feel well. They called Genevra to pick me up.

  “What’s really wrong?” Genevra asked me once we were in the car.

  “What do you mean? I told you, I don’t feel well.”

  “Are you actually sick? Or did something happen?”

  She was more perceptive than I had thought. “I’m sick… because of seeing Logan at school. He acted like we were never together!”

  She looked confused, but didn’t question me yet. I hadn’t explained much to her the night before. “Well, you never were, were you?”

  Had she fallen under some sort of spell too? “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, you guys weren’t together that long. You weren’t technically together when Andrei kidnapped you, and it hasn’t been long since you came back from wherever he was holding you. It’s not like you and Logan had been together long.”

  I sighed. “I guess that’s true. It’s just… I think he has some sort of weird amnesia.”

  “What do you mean?” she asked.

  I hesitated. “Well, I haven’t told you this, but Andrei came back.”

  “What? You should have told Shane and me immediately.”

  “I’m sorry. When Logan and I were out last night Andrei showed up out of nowhere. They fought and Logan got hurt. I think he hit his head or something and he got knocked out. Anyway, when he came to, he didn’t remember me. Actually, he remembered me, but he didn’t remember… us. He didn’t remember us being together.”

  Genevra was silent for a moment as she pulled into our driveway. When she turned off the car, she faced me. “I don’t know what happened, but I’m sorry. I wish I knew what to tell you.”

  I stared at her for a moment as the tears that threatened earlier starting coursing down my cheeks. “I-I d-don’t k-k-know wha-what to do!”

  Genevra leaned over and pulled me into a hug. “What can I do?” she asked when she let go. “Do you want me to have a talk with Logan’s mom, or…” she trailed off. This was new to her, as well as to me. Tanis never dated, so this was the first real boy issue she had to deal with.

  I shook my head, sniffling. “No, I don’t think that will do any good.”

  She started the car again. “Where are we going?” I asked.

  She smiled. “For ice cream. It’s a well-known cure-all. It’s even been known to mend a broken heart.”

  I offered her a wan smile. To my surprise, she drove past the grocery store and got onto the freeway. I pointed behind us. “Umm… Genevra? You passed it.”

  “We’re going to Santa Cruz. I’m taking you to Marianne’s.”

  “We don’t have to go all the way out there!” I protested, even though it was my favorite ice cream shop.

  “I know, but it’s what you need. Besides, it won’t be too crowded this time of day, and we can hopefully talk without being interrupted.”

  We pulled into the parking lot of the red shop with the bright yellow sign. Once inside, we stood at the long counter for a while, debating on what we wanted. They had everything from “normal” flavors like chocolate chip or vanilla, all the way to things like cinnamon or green tea. After we ordered, we sat down at a table. She had been right; it wasn’t too crowded. “So, explain to me what happened last night. You and Logan were fine when you left the house, and then you called me in a panic to come pick you up in Rio Del Mar. I don’t understand.”

  I took a deep breath. “Okay, after Logan and I left the house, we went back to his house. I met his parents and he changed. Then he took me to Sacramento for dinner and a show. Everything went great. But when we got back into town, he wanted to go to the beach. Andrei showed up out of nowhere.” Literally, I thought. “They fought. I got knocked out. Logan won and Andrei took off, but then Logan collapsed. I dragged him into the car and drove him home.” I held up my hand at the protest I knew was coming. “I know I don’t have my license yet, but it was an emergency. I got him home and his parents helped get him into bed.” I could feel the tears spring into my eyes again, and I looked down, concentrating on my ice cream that was beginning to melt. “When he woke up, it was like he didn’t remember me. Or rather, he remembered me, but not that we had ever been together. It was like, temporary amnesia or something.”

  Genevra sighed. “I wish I knew what to tell you to make you feel better.”

  I forced a smile. “This helps a little.”

  We sat at the table a little while longer, and then we had to head home so Genevra could start dinner. She called up to Tanis, who was hiding in her room as usual, to let her know that we were home.

  “D
o you need any help?” I asked her as she started pulling out some pans.

  “No, but you can sit in here with me and keep me company.”

  I couldn’t help but laugh at that. She didn’t usually want company while she cooked. I knew she just didn’t want to leave me alone.

  Chapter Eleven

  There was a knock on the door. I froze. Genevra looked at me and shrugged. “I’m not expecting anyone. Are you?”

  I shook my head. “No.”

  “Can you answer it? I’m kind of busy here,” she said, indicating the dinner preparations strewn about the counters.

  I slid off the stool and wandered over to the door. I threw it open to find my other best friend, Tristan, standing on the other side. “What are you doing here?” I asked.

  He pushed his sandy blond hair out of his eyes and offered me a wide smile. “Nice greeting. Can I come in?”

  I stood aside to let him come into the house. “Sorry, I just wasn’t expecting you.”

  “I know. I just thought you could use some friend-time.”

  “You didn’t bring Cady?”

  He frowned, shoving his hands in his pockets and rocking back on his heels. “Do you want me to leave and get her?”

  “No! That’s not what I meant at all. I’m just surprised to see you here without her. I’m glad you’re here, and it’s totally fine that she’s not.”

  I shut the door behind him and we wandered into the living room. This was the first time I had hung out with Tristan alone, not counting talking before and after class. I wasn’t exactly sure what to say.

  Tristan sat on the couch. “I figured you could do without Cady’s… energy for a little while.”

  I laughed as I sat in a chair across from him. It felt good. It was the first time I had laughed like that since Logan had… well, I still didn’t know what had happened. “You got that right! I love Cady, but I can’t handle too much of her right now.”

  “So what do you want to do? Go to the beach? Go to the movies?”

  I hesitated. “I’m not sure I’m up to going anywhere.”

  “Then we stay here. Do you want to watch a movie here?”

  “I guess… we’d need to go into the family room. There’s no TV in here.”

  We got up and headed through the French doors connecting the living room with the family room. “Why don’t you go pick a DVD and I’ll get us some snacks?”

  Tristan went over to the case where we kept our DVDs while I wandered into the kitchen. Genevra was still working on dinner. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to abandon you,” I told her.

  “I’ve been cooking by myself for a long time. I don’t need help. I just like the company. Go watch a movie with your friend. It’s fine.”

  “Okay, if you’re sure… I’m just going to get us some snacks,” I said.

  I popped some popcorn in the microwave and dug some boxes of Junior Mints out of the pantry. I grabbed a couple of sodas from the fridge — diet for me, of course. I had to feed my “addiction”. Piling everything on a tray, I carried it into the family room.

  Tristan was already sprawled out on a couch. He had fast-forwarded the DVD to the main menu and the music was blaring. “I know how you hate previews.”

  Did I ever. Sometimes it was exciting to see previews for the first time, but after watching a DVD a million times with the same previews… you get the picture.

  “Thanks.”

  I set the tray down on the table and threw some pillows on the floor. I liked to stretch out on the floor during movies. It was one of the many reasons I rarely went to the movie theatre.

  “What did you pick?” I asked.

  “Lord of the Rings.” Of course. I shouldn’t have even bothered asking. Tristan was slightly obsessed with anything having to do with fantasy.

  I picked up the remote, but instead of hitting play, I turned the volume down. “Hey, Tristan?”

  “Yeah?”

  I hesitated for a minute, wondering if I should say what I was about to say. Maybe I needed to talk to someone, someone who would be logical. “Do you believe in angels?” I asked.

  He frowned. “Sure. Why?”

  “What about devils?”

  “I guess.”

  It was now or never. I hoped he wouldn’t react badly. “Okay, I need to tell you something, but it absolutely has to stay between us. You can’t tell anyone, including Cady.”

  He crossed his heart and raised his right hand. “I promise I will keep this to myself.”

  “Tristan!” I smacked his leg. “This is serious!”

  He laughed. “Okay, okay!” He pulled his face into a scowl. “How’s this?”

  I rolled my eyes. “If you’re not going to be serious, I’m not going to tell you.”

  “You really mean it, don’t you?”

  “Yes!”

  He sobered. “Sorry. I’m just trying to get you to feel better. I promise I won’t say anything.”

  “Okay… I don’t know where to start, so I’m just going to jump in. I’m, well, I’m not completely human.”

  He sucked his breath in sharply. “What do you mean, you’re not human? What are you?”

  “I’m still human. At least, part human. But apparently I’m also part angel.”

  “I don’t understand,” he admitted.

  “Remember when I disappeared?”

  “Yeah, of course. It wasn’t that long ago and we were all worried.”

  “That’s why I disappeared.”

  He looked confused.

  “Okay, I’m not explaining this right.” I paused for a minute to try to collect my thoughts, and then my words rushed out. “All right, Logan’s an angel — part angel and part something else. Andrei, the guy I was dating? He’s a devil. I’m part angel and part human.”

  “Whoa.” Tristan slid down onto the floor to sit next to me. “That’s a lot to take in. So Logan kidnapped you or whatever because you’re part angel? Or was it this Andrei guy?”

  I shook my head and stuffed some popcorn into my mouth, washing it down with a gulp of soda. “No, Logan had nothing to do with my disappearance. In fact, he tried to prevent it. He’s the one who saved me in the end.”

  I could hear Tristan’s breath whoosh out. “And here I blamed Logan. I need to apologize to him.”

  I cocked my head and stared at him. “What do you mean, you blamed Logan?”

  “When you were first gone, and he wouldn’t — or couldn’t — tell anyone where you were or what happened, I… well, I sort of threatened him.”

  “Oh wow. What did you say?”

  “I don’t remember exactly. Something about that if it was his fault, I’d make sure he suffered for it.”

  “Wow, Tristan. I didn’t realize you cared so much,” I told him.

  He stared at his shoes and muttered something under his breath then reached for the popcorn.

  “What was that?” I asked.

  “I said that it would be obvious if you looked a little harder.” He looked everywhere but at me.

  “Now I’m confused.”

  He sighed heavily and chugged his soda. He slammed the empty can down on the tray, crumpling it a little. He still wouldn’t look at me. “I’m in love with you.”

  “Huh?” I couldn’t manage anything beyond that.

  His eyes finally met mine. “I said I’m in love with you. I have been since the day I saw you.”

  He was what? That was the last thing I needed. “Why didn’t you say anything before?”

  “Because you were with Andrei, and then you disappeared. When you got back, you were with Logan, and now you’re heartbroken over Logan… I don’t know. It was never the right time. Besides, I knew you would never go for me.”

  I reached over and placed a hand on his arm. “Why would you think I’d never go for you?”

  “I’m not like them.”

  “What? Supernatural? I’m getting a little tired of the supernatural stuff myself. But so what if you’re not like them? You’re
one of my best friends. I wish you had said something.”

  “Does that mean there’s a chance for us?” he asked hopefully.

  Uh-oh. That wasn’t what I had meant. “Tristan… I love you, but as a friend. Maybe if you had said something before all this happened… but I’m still in love with Logan.” I cringed, hoping I hadn’t broken his heart.

  “That’s what I thought.”

  “Are you mad?”

  “No, I figured you were. Maybe if we lived in a world where no supernatural beings existed, then we could have made things work.”

  I gave him a grim smile. “But then I wouldn’t exist.”

  “That may be true.” He stood up.

  “Oh, please don’t leave!” I hoped he wasn’t going to run out because I didn’t return his feelings.

  Surprisingly, he laughed. “I’m not leaving. I’m just sitting on the couch again. I still don’t understand how you sit on the floor. It’s so uncomfortable.”

  “That’s why I take the pillows. Then I can stretch out on them.”

  We gave each other strained smiles. “So you’re really not mad?”

  “No, I’m not. I pretty much knew you didn’t feel that way about me. But hey, it was worth a try. So finish telling me about this angel stuff.”

  Chapter Twelve

  I readjusted my pillows and leaned back against them. I kicked off my shoes and put my feet up on the couch. “Okay, so you know how Andrei started going all stalker-ish when I started hanging out with Logan at school?”

  He nodded.

  “Well, Genevra pulled me out of school until we could get a restraining order or whatever. Then when she was gone, Andrei showed up at my house. Logan was here with me and we took off to San Jose. Andrei followed us there. He and Logan fought. That’s when I found out that they’re angels.”

  “I thought you said Andrei was a devil,” Tristan interrupted.

  “Yeah, he is. He’s a fallen angel. They’re basically the same thing. When the angels fell, they became the devils.”

  “O-kay. I think I understand. Keep going.”

  “Well, Andrei took me to this place called the Shadow Imperium. It’s where the devils live now that they’re banished from Heaven and Earth.”