by Last, K. A.
“Should we follow him?” I asked.
“He’s just being a drama queen,” Grace said.
“I’ll go.” Charlotte got up gracefully to follow Archer.
“We should go, too,” Ryan said, pulling Emma to her feet. The bell hadn’t even rung and all of a sudden I was sitting there alone with Grace. My palms went sweaty and I tried to wipe them on my pants without her noticing. I had the overwhelming urge again to reach out and touch her cheek, but instead I started to fidget and didn’t know where to put my hands.
“Stop, Josh,” she said softly. “You don’t have to be nervous around me, I won’t bite.”
“I just don’t want you to leave, again.”
Grace leant on the table, putting her hands in front of her. Before I knew what I was doing, I leant in as well and traced the back of her hand with my finger. Little sparks flew between our skin and she turned her palm upwards so I could place mine on top. In that moment of silence between us I was so happy, just sitting there holding hands in a noisy cafeteria. We could have been the only two people in the room.
“Come on,” Grace said in her melodic voice. “We probably should head to class.” She grabbed her bag and hugged her copy of Shakespeare to her chest.
“You really like that stuff, don’t you?” I asked. We walked towards the door and all eyes were on us, but I didn’t care. “Me though, I can never understand it.”
Grace turned towards me and smiled. “You sound like Archer. He loathes Shakespeare. I guess it’s like an acquired taste. Then there’s the preference over comedy or tragedy. I prefer the tragedies. Macbeth was his shortest you know.”
“Really? Then I think I’ll be choosing that one. It’s not that I don’t want to understand it. I just wish…”
“It was more modern?”
“Yeah, I guess,” I replied sheepishly.
We took our seats in the classroom and I wished I was sitting closer to Grace. Having my back to her was torture, and no matter how I sat it was really obvious every time I tried to look at her. The lesson was spent watching the rest of the movie we’d started on Monday, so at least I didn’t have to think too much. The only thing I could think about was Grace. How sad was I beginning to sound!
The end of lesson bell made me jump and I nearly fell off my seat. I heard a little giggle from the back row and glanced over my shoulder to see Grace smiling. She hadn’t moved from her seat and I heard her tell Archer she’d catch up with him at lunch, she had a free. I hung back and waited until the room was empty then turned in my seat to face her.
There were no words in my vocabulary to describe this girl. I could not believe how completely and utterly head over heels I was for her, and she knew it.
“Do you have any weird memories from last night?” Grace asked.
I’m sure my face reflected many emotions, confusion probably the highest on the list. Why was she asking me about last night? Grace was going to think I was a nut job if I told her what I’d seen. I wasn’t sure if I should continue, but for some reason I trusted her.
“I did see something, but you’ll think I’m crazy.”
“Try me,” she said.
I took a breath, what did I have to lose? She’d either, laugh and say nice knowing you, or she’d listen.
“Bright lights making people in the cemetery. I can’t explain it any other way. There were these balls of light, and then people appeared. And there was a guy with dark creepy eyes. Then I blacked out.”
Grace closed her eyes and rubbed her temples with her fingertips. I rose from my chair and moved into the one next to her. Then I gently pulled her hands from her face, entwining my fingers into hers. The warmth from her touch flowed through me and I felt connected to her, like we were one person. Grace turned in her seat, pulling herself closer to me.
“I’m not supposed to be with you,” she said. “I’m different. I have a secret.”
“We all have secrets, Grace.”
“It’s not the same. You’re the one who’s going to think I’m crazy,” she said, on the verge of tears.
“Try me,” I chuckled.
“What you saw last night was me and Archer orbing to the cemetery.”
“Orbing?”
“Travelling by balls of light,” she said.
“You materialised in a ball of light? Like something from the Twilight Zone?”
“But not quite as scary.”
“I’m not really quite sure what to do with that.”
I tried to continue talking but I didn’t know what to say. My mind knew what it had seen, Grace’s confirmation just made it that much harder to grasp.
“I can hear and see things, too,” she continued. Her hands started trembling and tears spilled down her cheeks. “The eyes are the windows to your soul, Josh.”
“And what do my eyes tell you?” I asked, reaching up to wipe a tear away. Grace stared at me, her eyes glistened and her skin glowed.
“That you think you’re in love with me,” she said softly. “And not just in a school boy crush kind of way. Deep inside you believe with all your heart that I’m the one. Scared yet?”
“How could someone as beautiful as you be scary?”
“There’s a whole lot more to it. Can we get out of here?” Grace gently pulled me up and took me to the back corner of the classroom. “Do you trust me?” she asked with fresh tears in her eyes.
“Too late to turn back now.”
“Hold on then,” she whispered as she folded herself into my arms. Grace began to emanate light from her body, it swirled outwards and around us until we were bound together, and then in a flash we were gone.
For a moment I was completely disorientated and I thought I was going to be sick. The next thing I knew there was rock beneath my feet. We landed softly on the outcrop at the end of the path. Grace gently pulled away and I loosened my hold on her. What just happened was amazing, and although I’d never felt more alive than I did at that moment, it took all my strength not to vomit on her feet. Grace wouldn’t look at me so I tenderly raised her chin with my hand, and I saw all her apprehension dissolve instantly. She was still lightly glowing and looked beautiful.
“How do you do that?” I asked, gently stroking her upturned face.
“It’s one of my many talents,” she replied with a giggle. “I have a lot to share with you, but only if you won’t freak out on me.”
“Oh, I’m freaking out. But so far you haven’t tried to kill me so, I figure it’s all good.”
We stood loosely holding one another and gazing out over the valley. Above us the mid-morning sun was peeking out from behind a fluffy white cloud. Grace rested her head on my chest; the summer breeze gently whipped her hair against my cheek.
“Why haven’t you run a mile?” Grace asked, turning to stare into my eyes.
“Like I said, I’m still alive, and I’m curious to see what else you can do. Besides, you haven’t actually done anything scary, just mind blowing, impossible and a little stomach churning, but not scary.”
“Then there’s something else I want to show you.” Grace stepped out of my embrace, her eyes never leaving mine. “Ready?” she asked.
Before I could answer she unbuttoned her school blouse, revealing a singlet underneath, and threw it to the ground. She stood with her eyes closed; her body began to glow like it had in the classroom. Her hands were clasped loosely in front of her and the blue sapphire in the ring on her right hand began to pulse. Tendrils of light reached out from the ring and encircled themselves around her. I watched in amazement as two beautiful pure white shapes formed behind her, reaching up and out as they grew. Her smile was radiant, and her skin was shimmering with light. Grace had become her own light source, and she was absolutely glorious.
Gobsmacked, my mouth hung open and I watched as she stretched her wings wide, the gentle breeze ruffling her feathers. The faint rustling noise they made had an entirely different beauty of its own.
I took a step back as Grace ope
ned her eyes, but I didn’t scream, or yell, or run.
“You’re still here?”
“You’re an angel?” I whispered. “I think I need to sit down.” I shook my head, and then blinked a few times. I sat on the rock, put my head between my knees and took a deep breath. All the while Grace didn’t move, and I felt like an idiot. “No, on second thought, I think I’ll stand,” I said, getting back up and pacing a little. I ran my hands through my hair. “You’re an angel?”
“You already said that.”
“You’re … beautiful.”
Grace stepped towards me and I slowly reached out to touch her wings. Faltering, I asked if I could and she nodded. Ever so lightly I stroked her feathers; they were the softest thing I’d ever touched, like liquid silk beneath my fingertips. I couldn’t believe this was happening. It was like I was dreaming. Grace reached up and pressed her palm to my cheek. I circled her waist with my arms; then she squeezed her eyes shut and grimaced.
“What is it?” I asked, loosening my hold.
“This is against the rules, Josh. Showing you my true self, getting involved with a human, is forbidden. Every time I get close to you I’m overcome with dread. I guess it’s their way,” she pointed to the sky, “of keeping me in check.”
“So that’s why you keep pulling away?” Grace nodded, her hands resting on my chest. “What if you push past it?” I asked. “Is that possible?”
“Anything is possible. But there is something else I need to tell you.” I held her close resting my forehead on hers, our noses almost touching, still feeling like I was dreaming. “It’s about Charlotte, and Archer,” she continued. Grace launched into an explanation fit for a crazy person living in a fantasy world, but the even crazier thing was I found myself hanging on every word she said, and believing all of it.
“It seems I’m destined to fall no matter what I do. I refuse to kill her. I’ve vowed to protect her for as long as it takes. Plus, I’ve fallen for you.”
“But that’s a good thing, right?”
“I will be committing the ultimate sin. I’ll be turning my back on my God and my family, and you have to know it will be dangerous.”
“I’m still adjusting to the fact you’re an angel, and you tell me you’re also a vampire hunter and Archer’s protector?” I said.
“Feel like running now?” she asked softly.
“Where would I run to?” I pulled her closer.
“You can’t tell anyone. My world, the people I protect, would all be in danger. Emma doesn’t even know.”
“Your secret is safe with me.”
Grace turned her face up to mine and finally I felt the velvet soft touch of her lips. We both trembled as our bodies intertwined. Grace ran her hands up my neck and curled her fingers into my hair. Nothing else mattered and we were lost in one another. I moved my hands from her waist around to her back then traced the line of her spine up to her wings, ever so gently caressing them. Grace tilted her head back and I placed feather light kisses down her neck to her collar bone then back up the other side.
“You are heaven in the flesh,” I whispered, gazing into her sparkling blue eyes.
Grace smiled and more tears spilled down her cheeks, shimmering in the sunlight like tiny flecks of quartz. I kissed her again, only this time with a hunger so intense I never wanted it to end.
SIXTEEN
GRACE
Wednesday Afternoon
Charlotte sat on her bed while I leant on the desk and looked out her dorm room window. Her room was on the second floor so it had a better view of the yard than Emma’s. I’d come to make sure Charlotte would be ok for the night, and to borrow some clothes. Archer wouldn’t be happy when I told him what I’d done and that I wasn’t planning on going home. I wanted to spend a little time with Josh—surprise, surprise.
“You did what?” she asked. “How did he take it?”
“A lot better than I expected actually. I think he’s a little freaked, but he didn’t run. Arch is going to spit chips,” I said, sighing.
I quickly threw on one of Charlotte’s tops and a pair of jeans, which I had to roll up considerably, then flopped down onto the bed next to her. When I’d first looked in the wardrobe there were Charlotte’s uniforms on one side, and an assortment of dark jeans and black tops hanging on the other. She only owned one jumper because she didn’t feel the cold—it was also black—but I wasn’t one to judge, black was practical.
Charlotte had gone to no effort to liven up the place. She hadn’t changed the standard issue blue bedspread, and the walls were bare. Emma on the other hand had posters of her favourite bands and boys everywhere.
“I’m sure he won’t be too hard on you,” Charlotte said, smiling.
“How are things between you two anyway?” I asked, shifting and folding my legs beneath me.
“I’ve noticed a slight change in his attitude towards me, if that’s what you mean.”
“I think he’s beginning to like you.”
From the look on Charlotte’s face I assumed this was not a good thing. Her expression changed from shock to confusion, then outright denial.
“No. Not with a human. Not with anyone.”
“Charlotte?”
“What if I lost control, Grace, what if I hurt him?”
“You wouldn’t. You’re good, remember. Besides, Arch can hold his own,” I said.
“Not with me he can’t.”
Well that was news to me. Archer had never fought a vamp he couldn’t handle, which is why he was still breathing, but Charlotte was far too serious and it frightened me.
“You forget that I’m a Blaze, Grace. I’m different to other vampires. If I wanted to kill Archer he would have no chance of survival.”
“But I’ve seen you fight.”
“It’s not about fighting; it’s the fact he trusts me now. His guard would be down.”
She had a point; I thought she was being too hard on herself, but I wasn’t going to push the issue. Things would run their course and we would all deal with it together. We were a team whether any of us liked it or not. I got up and headed to the door.
“Well, wish me luck. I think I know already what Arch is going to say.”
Charlotte hesitated and I lingered with my hand on the door knob, waiting for her to speak. She sat perfectly still in that familiar way of hers. I was about to leave when she finally said something.
“What if I did have an inkling of some feelings for him, how would you feel?” she asked.
“If I know one thing about my brother it’s that he’s very loyal.” I stared at Charlotte across the silence. “Of course his decisions are his, not mine. I love you both so please just promise you’ll try not to hurt him. When it boils down to it he will always come first, and I don’t want to be in that position.”
Charlotte replied with a nod and a tight lipped smile. I pulled the door closed behind me then headed down the stairs out into the fresh air and towards the boys’ dorm. Archer had said he’d meet me in the common room. I was getting a little nervous about telling him my news; boy, was I going to be in trouble.
When I got there, Ryan was on one of the couches reading a magazine.
“Catching up on the latest celebrity goss huh?”
“Oh, hey Grace. Gotta love those trashy mags.”
“Have you seen Arch anywhere?” I asked.
Before he could answer I felt two strong hands on my shoulders, and a soft kiss was planted on my cheek. My heart fluttered and I turned to smile at Josh.
“I just saw him walking across the yard,” Josh said.
“You haven’t said anything to him today, have you?” I whispered, folding myself into his arms. He shook his head and gently kissed my lips. It made me feel a little light headed and I had to pull back to re-focus. When I saw Archer walking towards the door, I prised myself away from Josh.
“I’m just going to take a walk with Arch,” I told him. “I’ll see you in a bit?”
“Don’t be
too long.”
I stepped outside and linked my arm through Archer’s, pulling him away from the common room.
“What’s with the hugging?” he asked, looking over his shoulder. It looked like Ryan was pumping Josh with questions, about me no doubt.
“I need to tell you something.”
“Ok, Gracie, what have you done?”
“Why do you automatically think I’ve done something?” I asked. I walked to the dorm steps and sat down in a patch of low afternoon sunlight. Archer sat beside me and gave me his big brother concerned look.
“Because when you start sentences with, ‘I need to tell you something’, it’s never good news.”
“Well, that depends what side you’re looking from.”
“Just out with it would you.”
I tried to stall for a few seconds, to form the words in my head into a coherent sentence and find a way of saying what I needed to without the risk of a freak out from Archer. But I knew that would never happen, so I just had to come right out and tell him.
“You showed him your wings?” he shouted at me.
“Shhh, not so loud.” I looked around and luckily no one was within earshot.
“And then he kissed you?”
“Yes,” I squeaked. “He thinks I’m heaven in the flesh. It was the most perfect first kiss ever.”
Archer was pretty mad, so much so he wouldn’t say anything. His look said enough anyway, and I’m pretty sure I saw steam coming out of his ears.
“You do know that’s it now, you’ve probably sealed your fate,” he said. Yep, he was angry.
When I’d come back from the rock ledge, I’d floated through the rest of the day on a cloud of happiness. I hadn’t let myself think about the consequences of my actions, even though I knew they would probably be huge. Archer was right, everything would be different now. It was one thing to swear to protect the enemy, but another to commit an angel’s ultimate sin. Ever since the great fall we were strictly forbidden to have any intimate relationships with a human, but I knew that and had gone and done it anyway.