Death in Her Eyes

by ERIN BEDFORD

  The sight of Dharma sprawled on the floor her eyes staring at nothing made me shudder. Nope. Definitely not over exaggerating.

  I ate about half of the massive sandwich Vinny made me before my phone rang.

  Thank all that was good and sarcastic. It was Nikki.

  "Have my aunts drove you insane yet?"

  Nikki scoffed. "Yeah right. I'm Jewish remember? My mom has guilt down to an art. There is no way they're gonna break me." I chuckled over her words, slipping out of my chair and over to my purse. As I dug around inside, Nikki asked, "Have you figured out where you are yet?"

  "Not yet unfortunately but I have a..." I mumbled under my breath as I tried to find my spare lighter. I'd left my bag in class and hadn't had a chance to go get it yet. That wasn't going to stop me from lighting up though. "Ah ha!" My fingers wrapped around the lighter and I snagged a cigarette from the pack and took up a seat by the window.

  "What was that ah ha about?" Nikki prodded. I could hear the frown on her face.

  "Nothing," I muttered through the side of my mouth, lighting the cigarette and pushed the window open.

  "I'm going to pretend you're not killing your lungs right now and focus on the more pressing matter. When are you coming home?"

  Taking a deep exhale, I blew it out the window. "Hopefully tonight." I let my gaze drift over the courtyard and out beyond where my freedom lay.

  "Tonight?" Nikki squealed. I moved the phone away from my face with a grimace. "What do you mean tonight? I thought you didn't know where you were?"

  "I don't." I tapped the ash on the windowsill. "But apparently my jail keeper is going to be out tonight, and I've been invited to some mysterious gathering outside the barrier."

  "Oooh. Your first party invite." I could hear the grin in her voice. "Are you excited? Nervous? Think you'll kiss a boy?"

  My lips tugged down at the side my mind drifted back to the vision I had of Dex. "No. Definitely not. But I will be out of the barrier and you'll be able to find me. So, I figured I'd message you as soon as I'm out. Then you search for me. You'll tell me where the nearest town is and once I've made a decent enough of an appearance not to seem suspicious I'll make a break for it. I'll hide out until you can come get me or at least find a bus station."

  "That sounds like a lot of this relies on me being able to find you on the app."

  I inhaled deeply, blowing out the smoke as I said, "I have complete faith in you. If all else fails," I began but was cut off by a knock on my door. My brows furrowed, I sat my cigarette on the edge or the windowsill and walked across the room.

  "If all else fails what, Elle?" Nikkei probed me as I turned the doorknob.

  "I'll send you a smoke signal big enough to make the news." I smiled to myself but the moment I saw Dex's chastising face frowning down at me, my expression slid into neutral. "I'll have to call you back."

  Hanging up the phone, I shoved it into my back pocket. "Can I help you?" I didn't know which reason Dex was here for. There were three potential reasons for his visit. Dharma? The vision? Or the mercifully given out the clock was ticking down to?

  Dex lifted my bag. "You forgot this when you ran away."

  I snatched my bag from him being careful not to touch his hand. I did not want a repeat of whatever caused that vision in his class.

  "Thanks. Bye." I tried to close the door on him, but he shoved in passed me. "Uh, excuse me. This is my room. Talk about privacy."

  Dex ignored me heading straight for the window. "Not when you're living here." He lifted the cigarette from the windowsill and then without a word burned it to a crisp in between his fingers.

  "Hey. I wasn't done with that." I huffed, chunking my bag to the side. "How'd you even know it was there? Do you have some kind of magical smoke detector or something?"

  Dex leaned against my desk, his eyes flicking to the books on top. "I see you visited Sarah. That's good. You could learn a thing or two from her. And I saw you."

  "Saw me?" I cocked a brow. "Like in a vi-"

  "From the courtyard." He interrupted me with a flat look, picking up the book I'd been flipping through. "If you're going to break the rules at least pretend to hide it."

  I ate up the space between us and grabbed the book from his hands putting it back on the desk. "I wasn't given any rules. So how should I know if I break them?"

  Scowling, Dex crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head. "You have to make everything difficult, don't you?"

  I rolled my eyes. "Like you have any room to talk. I told you I didn't have the same powers and you wouldn't listen. Too butt hurt over some made up wrong I've done."

  "You should have told me you were a student." Dex pushed off my desk leaving us practically chest to chest, his dark eyes boring into mine.

  "And you shouldn't hit on anything with tits and a pulse." I shot back. My heart raced at our closeness. Wanting and dreading touching him again.

  Dex's voice lowered until I had to strain to hear my eyes locked on his perfect lips. "Are you even going to ask about Dharma?"

  I jerked back as if slapped. "I figured since no one want chasing me out she's fine."

  "Do you even care? If she'd been damaged beyond repair would you even blink?"

  I gaped at him. Clipping my mouth shut, anger billowing up in my chest and did something I never did. I touched him. On purpose.

  Shoving my finger at his chest, I braced myself for the sweet caress of his lips. The hot need that filled my body before. But this time much time my relief and horror I felt the sharp slice of pain from a sword. Blood trickled down the side of my mouth. No. His mouth. And someone screaming in the distance.

  A warm hand latched onto my wrist and I shoved the image away giving him instead an easier one to swallow as he probed at my mind. The vision of Dharma's death.

  He gasped his eyes flying open as he stumbled back from me releasing my wrist.

  "That's what I not only see but feel every day." I walked toward him, watching as he took a step back for each one I took closer. "Think about that the next time you ask me if I even care." I grabbed the door frame in a tight grip while Dex stared after me with mixed emotions. "I'd explode if I had to care anymore." To my surprise I didn't slam the door in his face. All the energy left me, and I sagged against the door until it shut with a small click.

  Chapter 12

  Ayden knocked on my door shortly after nine. Like before she didn't wait to be asked in. "You're going to wear that?" Her eyes skimmed my shredded jean shorts and black crop top.

  "What's wrong with it?"

  She placed her hands on the hips of her clinging red dress and sighed. "Your shirt has holes in it. I can see your bra!"

  I glanced down at the hot pink bra peeking out the strategically placed holes and shrugged. "So? It's not my nipples. Are you even wearing bra?" I arched a brow jerking my chin toward her headlights.

  Quickly covering her chest with her arms, Ayden's face turned beet red. "Leave me alone. I can't wear one with this dress."

  "Then why didn't you wear something else?" I bent down to put my boot on over the just as holey fishnet tights I wore beneath my shorts.

  "It's a party."

  "And?"

  "And..." she trailed off, turning her face to the side as she tapped her fingertips together. "And Bishop will be there."

  My brows rose. "Ohhh. Ayden likes the broody type, does she?"

  "He's not broody. He's deep." Ayden countered and stomped to the door. "Come on before we're late."

  "And he's a mental on top of it." I mock clucked my tongue at her. "Oh, Ayden. What would everyone say?" We quickly and quietly hurried down the hallway.

  "Shut up you. Or I'll tell everyone you have the hots for a teacher."

  I startled back, pausing in place. "No, I don't. I mean, I don't know what you're talking about."

  I thanked the shadows of the hallways for hiding my expression. Dex was unbelievably hot, sure. But I needed a bit more than attraction to be into someone.
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br />   What about the vision? You obviously don't need much more if that's any indicator of your future.

  I shoved my inner bitch down and focused on staying unseen or heard. I couldn't let my one chance to get past the barriers to get blown because I was distracted. Especially, not by a teacher.

  Once we were out of the school and walking down a cobblestone path, I felt safe enough to ask, "Where are we going again?"

  "Just wait." Ayden grinned and skipped a dance. Spinning full circle, she let her arms swing happily around her. "It's going to be like nothing you've ever seen before. I've only ever gone to one before this and it was just..." she sighed clasping her hands before her as she stared up at the starry sky.

  "That good huh?" I kind of felt bad about missing it. But I had to get out of here. I didn't belong. No matter how much my dad thought I did. He hadn't cared enough to save mom who says he even cared now?

  You know you're wrong. That irritating voice was back again. He wouldn't have brought you here if he didn't. He could have let the angels find you.

  Conflicted by what I'd always known about my dad and what had happened recently, I couldn't bring myself to find a reason to stay. This so-called danger hadn't shown itself. Everyone just said I was in danger outside of the school but besides my dad and Azazel I'd yet to meet an angel. Certainly not one who wanted to kill me.

  I rubbed at the mark on my hand which had faded even more since I'd arrived. Sarah told me it would disappear completely eventually but guessing when exactly that would happen was like guessing Nikki's favorite celebrity crush, which changed on a daily basis if not hourly. That girl fell in love far faster than I ever thought healthy or possible.

  The stars and moon lit the way until the cobblestone turned into a dirt path and the gates surrounding the school disappeared with a slight pop of air around us.

  "That was strange."

  Ayden gave me a knowing nod. "Going through the barrier the first time is weird for everyone. You'll get used to it."

  I hummed in agreement though I had no plans to get used to it. I clutched my purse and phone closer to my side. I'd have liked to bring more with me, but I couldn't let myself look suspicious. I barely got away with the conservative outfit I'd picked out. No way was I trying to hitch a ride or get on a bus wearing a tiny dress. That was just demanding more attention than I needed or wanted right now.

  "We're almost there!" Ayden reached out to grab my hand but stopped herself. "Oops. Sorry."

  I shook my head and smiled, holding my hand out. "It's fine. I won't bite."

  Ayden glanced down at my hand chewing on her lower lip. "Doesn't it hurt you though?"

  I shrugged. "I'm used to it."

  "That's okay." She offered me a shy shrug. "I don't want to do anything that'll cause you pain. I'm just happy you're here."

  Surprised by her choice, I lowered my hand. Most people jumped at the chance to ignore my discomfort. Anything for them to pretend like I was normal. Ayden's words sliced at my guilty conscious once more.

  I followed after her, keeping to myself as I watched her basically dance a whole musical number down the trail into woods I hadn't known were so close to the school. Eventually, real music could be heard to go along with Ayden's dancing. And laughter. The dark trees around us lit up with red and yellow light. People awed and cheered. Ayden jumped in place and glanced back at me.

  Clearly wanting to run ahead I waved her off. "Go on. I'll catch up." My lips tugged up at the edges unable to hold my sobering mood with the infection grin on her face.

  Not having to be told twice, Ayden took off into the woods leaving me alone. Taking a second to check for others, I pulled my phone out and shot a text to Nikki. I didn't have to wait long for her response.

  Nikki: Nevada? Why the heck would you be all the way out there?

  It was worrying. My dad hadn't only taken me out of the state but across country. It was far from Nebraska. It would take more than one bus to get back home and no way Nikki could get me.

  I shot her a text back. I'll message when I leave.

  Nikki: Be careful.

  Sticking my phone in my back pocket, I hurried forward. Couldn't give Ayden a reason to come looking for me. At least not now. It was far too early.

  When I broke the clearing a full out party raged. Students hung around big bonfires and drank from red cups, laughing and playing around. Some of them already too drunk to stand.

  Nephilims weren't that different from human teenagers it seemed.

  I walked around the bonfire being careful not to brush up against anyone. Someone held out a cup to me and I took it without saying thank you. Not that they'd have heard me anyway. The girl who'd given me the cup had her tongue down the throat of another girl who I recognized from my Intro to Enoch class.

  Humming my amusement, I sipped from my cup and meandered around the area. It took a whole of ten minutes for me to get cornered by Charity, Bishop, and the guy from the smoking spot.

  "What are you doing here?" Charity growled, getting in my path when I tried to walk away.

  "I was invited."

  "Well, I'm uninviting you." Charity tried to take my cup, but I spun around in place keeping her from taking it.

  I narrowed my eyes on her. "Apparently, we're back to mean girl mode huh? No secret cigs between classes anymore? Ah what a shame." I mock snapped my fingers before taking a drink of my cup my eyes on her the whole time.

  "That was before you basically put Dharma in a coma. You freak." Charity screeched putting her hands on her hips as she got into my face.

  I held my hands up and out to the side. "Hey, I was just doing the assignment. It's not my fault your friend doesn't know how to take the memory she is given." I sighed and stared down into my cup. "Some memories deserve to stay buried."

  Then to my utter horror Charity burst into tears. Bishop patted her on the back awkwardly while the other guy glared at me as if I'd hit her in some way.

  "All...she...wanted..." Charity hiccupped and a whining sound came out of her nose as she cried. She patted Bishop on the arm apparently this was code for you tell her cause he turned that emo hair sweep in my direction.

  "Dharma was just trying to protect everyone."

  I frowned. "From me? How does digging in my brain protect anyone? It obviously didn't help her."

  My comments only made Charity cry harder and now it was joint boys turn to step in.

  "We've had numerous sightings of angels nearby and she needed to make sure you weren't one pretending to be one of us."

  Okay so now I felt bad. Well, worse actually. Sure, Dharma had been asking for it but I didn't mean to mess up her completely just scare her off a bit. Still there was something about their accusation that bothered me.

  "Why did you think I was?" I cocked my head to the side. "None of the teachers do."

  "Exactly." Bishop pointed out. "You didn't have a trial period. You didn't get escorted by an elder for the first six months. Not like the rest of us. Plus, you're..." his eyes went up and down my form with a conflicted expression.

  "I'm what?"

  "Older."

  I leaned forward afraid that I'd miss heard him over the music and Charity's wailing. "What? What does my age have to do with it? Aren't you all high schoolers?" I gestured around the bonfire.

  Bishop nodded. "Yeah but every one of us save Ayden got here when we were just showing our powers about thirteen. Or if their parents knew about their powers even younger. You're what twenty?"

  I sputtered in my drink. "Excuse me. I'll have you know I will be nineteen in two months. Besides, I'm hardly ancient."

  "But you've had your powers longer. You should have been found before now." Bishop and pot guy stared me down as if expecting me to sprout wings then and there.

  "I don't have to explain myself to you but because I feel bad for hurting your friend, I'll say this once and only once. I'm not, nor have I ever been, an angel. I didn't even know they existed until two days ago!"


  "Elle!" An excited squeal broke through my standoff with them. "There you are. They're about to start!"

  I twisted around to see Ayden who collapsed against me. Apparently, too drunk already to care that she broke her no touching rule. I flinched against her death but then had to struggle to keep her upright.

  "Geez, someone can't hold their liquor." I wheezed trying to keep her from knocking me to the ground.

  Ayden giggled and tapped my nose. "You're pretty. I bet you have had tons of sex. Unlike me. Who's a complete vir-"

  "Hey!" I cut her off and turned her toward the others looking on. "Look! It's Charity and Bishop! And..." I blanked as I tried to recall if I actually knew the pot guy's name.

  "Blake." He supplied helpfully eyeing Ayden up and down as if she were a prospective treat.

  "Yeah. Well." I shifted until I had a better grip on Ayden. "It was nice chatting with you all. Let's not do this again." I gave them a stiff smile before half dragging Ayden away. Finding a bench near the bonfire I asked, "What's this thing you wanted me to see?"

  "What thing?" Ayden stared up at me blankly.

  "You know the once in a lifetime thing you told me I had to come see." I tried once more wondering what the hell was in her drink.

  "Oh yeah. The thing. It's starting but we have to..." she tried to stand up, but her world went sideways and I had to catch her again. "It's that way." She pointed a wagging finger toward a little pond not far off.

  "Okay. Good. Let's-" I caught sight of the twins. "Hey, Zephyr and uh fuck Bayu. A little help here?"

  The twins turned from who I now saw was Coral and Joash and rushed toward me.

  "Geez, Ayden. Getting started early it seems?" Zephyr chuckled looping his arm under her legs and lifting her up. Thankfully her skirt was long enough not to show off all her goods to the party as we walked her over to the pond.

  "So, what's this miraculous thing that's supposed to happen tonight?" I drained the last of my cup and crushed it in my hand.

  We leaned Ayden up against the back of a log laying on its side on the ground before sitting on it ourselves. Coral sat next to Joash her eyes barely leaving him for a second and the twins on either side of Ayden. I sat at the end next to Zephyr who left a good half a foot between us.