by ERIN BEDFORD
"I'm fine. Just school drama." I waved a hand in the air and smiled trying to make him see we were fine.
"Oh, alright. If you're sure."
"We're sure." I answered quickly but Ayden jumped in. "Do you want to join us? You did save us from having to listen to her harp more. It's the least we could do."
The guy gave me a look before taking the empty seat next to me. I shoved myself so close to the wall that I was almost part of the decor. It was weird I knew it and he noticed.
"I don't bite, I promise." He offered me a lopsided grin.
Ayden leaned on her fist and fluttered her lashes at him. "Isn't this the part where you say only if you want me to?"
He chuckled.
Damn it.
Even that was attractive.
"I'm Ayden." She held out her hand with a flirty smile. "That's Elle. And what's your name handsome? I don't think I've seen you around here before."
Taking her hand, Ayden practically melted into the floor as he shook it and said, "Cass. It's nice to meet you."
"Likewise," Ayden breathed out and I had to suppress the urge to roll my eyes.
"Are you ready to order?" The sweet old man stood at our table a note pad in hand.
Cass and Ayden told him theirs while I took a quick look at the menu and told him the first thing I saw.
"Liver and onions huh?" Cass quirked a brow. "I would not have taken you for that kind of gal."
"Well, you don't know me well enough to know what kind of gal I am or otherwise do you?" I shot back at him which only made him smile wider.
Holy fucking hell was I flirting with him? This guy I just met? What the hell was wrong with me? Did this whole angel attraction thing work both ways? Except I wasn't drawn to any of the other guys in town.
“Are you from that private school? Up the hill?”
Ayden nodded fiercely. "Yep, it's really great. We love it there." She kicked my leg under the table. "Don't we?"
I cleared my throat. "Yeah, sure. It's great." I plastered on a forced smile.
Cass didn't seem convinced. "So, are you a bunch of rich kids or what?"
"Or what?" I answered cheekily.
Ayden choked on her water and I handed her a napkin.
Not bothered by my answer, Cass continued, “I tried to apply there once, but they told me I didn’t have the kind of parentage they were looking for.” He glanced at us as if we were supposed to fill in the blanks for him.
I shrugged. “Just a bunch of old men thinking their lineage is the best is all.”
Ayden fluttered her lashes at him, “I’d let you in. In a heartbeat.”
“Aren’t you a cute little thing?” Cass gave her a panty melting smile that had Ayden almost combusting on the spot.
“Hmph," I snorted and crossed my arms, throwing my feet up on the chair opposite of mine. "It's a bit too much like an occult to me.”
“My professor back at the university would have loved to hear why you think so.” Cass paused as a server came by and handed out our food.
“Oh," Ayden's voice raised a pitch. "What university?”
"Purdue in Indiana," Cass explained, picking up his cheeseburger. “I'm a history major there.”
“What are you doing here?” Ayden prodded further.
“Visiting my grams,” he said between bites, “but my nutty professor back at university actually believes in all the stuff they make us study. Aliens, witchcraft, and angel.” he snorted and took a bite of his burger. After he chewed and swallowed, he added, “Like any of that stuff they spout can’t be explained by science?”
I played with my food not planning on actually eating any of it. "Science, right." I exchanged a look with Ayden. We really shouldn't be talking about this with a stranger.
He wiped his mouth and chuckled. "My grams swears that the teachers there don’t age.” Cass grinned from ear to ear. "Can you believe that load of crap?"
I didn't answer him while Ayden laughed nervously. "Yeah, crazy."
A sudden outburst of laughter from Dharma's table had me turning in my seat. Dharma glanced in our direction and then whispered something to the table causing them all to break out in laughter once more.
A hand shook me. My gaze went cloudy and it was like I was outside of my body looking in as Dharma got up from her seat a chocolate shake in her hands. She walked by our table and purposely dumped it all over Cass's lap.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," she chittered as she tried to help clean him up.
"Hey," the hand on my shoulder shook me slightly “Are you okay? There's something wrong with your eyes.”
I shook my head and my vision cleared long enough to see Dharma heading this way, chocolate shake in hand. When she got to our table, I threw myself over Cass and shouted, “Look out!”
Freezing cold liquid goop slid down my hair and into the back of my shirt. I squealed at the temperature and jumped back into my seat. Dharma and her friends laughed as Cass and Ayden tried to help me clean off.
"That's a good look for you, freak." Dharma chortled and jeered.
The bell of the diner chimed, and an authoritative voice called out, “That’s enough. Everybody back to the school.” Dex stood in the doorway.
Great. Just what I needed.
Cass tried to wipe my face off with a napkin, but I took it from his hand and nudged him to let me out. “Thanks, I got it.”
“Are you alright?” He tried to follow me out of the diner, but I stopped before the door.
“Yeah. I'm fine. Just want to get changed."
Ayden followed the others out of the diner after paying for their meal and getting a to-go box. She gave me hovered outside the door waiting for me to finish wiping off.
“Are you sure you're okay," Cass continued staring hard at me like those back at school used to when they realized I was different. "Cause before I swear your eyes, they were…”
I felt Dex's presence behind me before he spoke. “She said she was fine. Let’s go.”
Giving Cass a weak smile, I waved. “It was nice meeting you.”
Chapter 19
Dex lead me away from the diner. All the other students were being ushered back toward the bus. Dharma had apparently gotten to them because they were all giving me dirty looks.
Wonderful. Now everyone hated me.
"She's only going to the academy because her dad runs it," one student hissed to another one not even bothering to need their voice low.
"I heard both her mom was a Nephilim."
"No? And her dad is Batariel?" The first voice gasped in horror and disgust. "No wonder she's such a freak."
My fingers curled tightly into fists and hurried my steps.
Dex stayed close to my side until we left the town and arrived by the bus back to the academy. I shifted to join where everyone else was piling into the bus but Dex grabbed my elbow.
"This way."
A flash of a vision pushed at me, leaving me breathless. Dex did not look as if he had been affected by this vision at all.
"Not trespassing in my mind anymore?" I followed him to a silver sports car. I wasn't about to question why I didn't have to ride with the others. Nothing in the world would make me want to do that.
Dex gave me a look. "It's safer that way." He slid into his car and waited for me to get into the passenger seat before cranking his car.
He shifted gears and pulled away from curb.
Not able to handle the tension in the car, I picked a relatively neutral topic. "I thought you didn't come to town. Too many people remembering your face?"
Dex snorted. "A simple suggestion slipped into their minds ends those theories easily."
I hummed.
"Hold on." Dex shifted gears and the car zoomed forward, ending any conversation we could have had with his speed.
I grinned and laughed as we zigged and zagged down the road speeding past cars and trees in a blur. If a police officer had caught our speed, he wouldn't have stood a chance at catching us. In fact, a
part of me worried that Dex might crash at any moment. The braver half of me didn't care and just wanted to go faster and faster.
A sideways glance at Dex showed he too enjoyed the speed. His lips were curled up in a carefree smile his face relaxed and his fingers tight on the steering wheel.
We beat the bus by a landslide, pulling into the driveway of the academy. I hardly wanted to get out of the car as Dex brought the car to a stop. Except staying there in the car with Dex was torture. All I could think about was the vision I'd just had and what I'd seen this morning. The combination of a naked Dex and the feel of his hot body pressing down onto mine was almost too much for me to bare.
Unable to handle it anymore, I opened the door and stepped out. The academy stood quiet before us as we walked up the stairs of the front. I touched the back of my hair and grimaced when it came back sticky and brown. I gave Dex an apologetic smile. "Sorry about your car."
Dex skimmed over my ruined attire. "Don't worry about it. It's just a car. You should probably go get cleaned up." Neither one of us needed to add "before the bus gets back." I didn't want to face down any of them right now and the ice cream was starting to itch.
I started toward my room but Dex called my name.
"When you're done. We need to talk." His gaze was sad as if he didn't really want to talk to me but had to.
I inclined my head, swallowing hard. "Okay. I'll be quick."
I wasn't sure what Dex wanted to talk about, but it couldn't be anything good. Was it about this morning? Nothing happened. Hell, we hadn't even kissed. Not in real life anyway. We'd done a whole hell of a lot more than kiss in my visions.
Still I hurried to my room and gathered a new set of clothes along with my toiletries. I washed myself faster than I had in my life even with washing my hair three times. When I was done, I quickly dried off and got dressed.
Dex was waiting for me in the hallway when I exited the bathroom. I was still drying my hair with a towel but didn't miss the way his eyes skimmed over my newly changed clothes. By the heat in his gaze, I knew he was thinking about this morning. Unfortunately, as quickly as the look came it was gone.
"Give me a second." I ducked into my room and put my things away, tossing my ruined clothes into the hamper. Hopefully they were salvageable. I really liked those jeans.
Cleaned and ready, I left my room and over to Dex. Not sure what the tone of this conversation would be, I cautiously stepped up to him. "What did you want to talk about?"
Dex began to speak but stopped and glanced down the hallway where the gathering sound of students returning filled the hallway. "Not here." He pivoted on his heel expecting me to just follow after him.
Normally, I'd have been annoyed but I wanted to know what he had to say and that required me to follow him. Regardless if I liked it or not.
Dex led me down the hallway and down past the gymnasium and to a set of double doors. I knew the doors led to the library, but I had yet to need to use it just yet. Reading wasn't particularly high on the priority list right now.
Pushing the doors open, Dex gestured for me to go inside.
Becoming even more curious to know what this was all about I only briefly oh'd and awe'd over the massive library. Any school who values education over having a new snack machine was okay in my books.
Walking over to a table, Dex placed his hand on the stack of books sitting on top. "I'm sure you heard me yesterday in Azazel's office."
I shrugged sheepishly. "Just yelling. Nothing really distinctive."
Dex ducked his head and raked a hand through his hair. "Well, that's lucky. I wasn't exactly being respectful."
I shrugged and wandered over to the table. "I'm sure whatever you were yelling at Azazel about was well deserved. I've yelled a time or two at her myself."
Chuckled, Dex tapped his finger on the book beneath his hand. "That I can believe." He huffed and dragged a hand over his face. He was struggling to tell me whatever it was he needed to tell me.
"Just tell me." I sat down at the table and glanced at the spines of the books. 'Prophecy of Zaphkiel.' 'Of Fire and Ice.' And several others that were in Latin. It seemed our conversation wasn't to see about making my visions come true.
"There are things you haven't been told." Dex began pacing before me rather than sitting at the table with me. "Things that should have been explained to you as soon as you got here. But their so damn stubborn." He growled and jerked his hands in the air. "Everything has to be done in order and by the book. They don't realize that they're messing with people's lives. They're fallen Angel's for Lucifer's sake! Breaking the rules are kind of their MO."
I frowned as I watched Dex rant and rave. I didn't know if I liked him this way. Though, I did agree that all these rules for a group of Angels who rebelled against God was pretty silly.
"Dex." I half stood and reached for him. "What is it?"
Stepping out of my reach, Dex stalked over to the table. "You weren't an accident, Elle." He threw open one of the books and showed me the passage on the so-called savior or destroyer Ayden had told me about on day one.
"What about it?" I asked confused.
"Elle, your dad didn't fall in love with your mom. He picked her specifically based on a vision Sarah had." My mouth dropped open as he continued to shatter my existence into a million pieces. "He knew he could get her pregnant and that's why he picked her. He was ordered by Lucifer to make you. A Nephilim who was more angel than human. One who had less limits on their on their powers. One who could turn the tide of this ongoing battle between heaven and hell. The Watcher."
A vague remembrance of the painting Ayden had shown me flashed in my head. The Watcher? Me? No way.
I shook my head in disbelief, pushing away from the table and waving my hands by my head. "You're wrong. It can't be me." I gave a bitter laugh and turned back to him. "I can't even have visions like a normal psychic. All I see is death and destruction."
"And in their wake destruction and death shall fall around them like rain. That will be the bringer of light. The savior who will cleanse the world or destroy it." Dex tapped the book with his finger once more. "It's all here, Elle. You aren't here because the angels want to kill you like the rest of us." He took a step toward me pain in his expression as he explained. "You're here so that Lucifer can make sure that you are on our side when everything goes down. Your dad, Azazel, they didn't want you to know. They wanted you to figure out your powers on your own." He took my hands in his but this time I was too numb by the realization of what he said to even react to the vision. "The mark your dad put on you was to hide you from the angel as well as keep your powers in check until they were ready."
I stared down at my hand where his thumb traced where the mark had been. It had all been a lie. From the very beginning, he hadn't loved her. He hadn't even tried to save her. He only came around to make sure that his precious weapon was where it was supposed to be.
My chest heaved rapidly as I drew in short breaths of air. Something inside of me built. It roared and raged, and I feared if it didn't come out I'd burn up from the insides.
"Let me go." I pulled my hands away from Dex, but he held on tight locking eyes with me. "I need to- I don't know what's-"
Understanding crossed Dex face and he pulled me close. "Let it go. You can't hurt me."
Not understanding what he meant I held onto to him tight my eyes squeezed closed as the ball inside of wound tighter and tighter until finally it broke.
Wind licked at my skin and the scent of burnt wood filled my nose. A weight on my chest had lifted and with it I pulled away from Dex, opening my eyes. Gasping, I jumped back.
Flames flickered all around us, but they weren't hot they didn't even burn. For a moment, I thought the flames had come from Dex but then I knew. I knew it had been me.
I'd done this. The fire stayed relatively close to us only scorching the floorboards.
"I'm only keeping it contained." Dex answered my unspoken question.
"Ho
w?" I gaped at him. "How did you know?"
Giving me a sad smile, Dex brushed the back of his hand against my cheek where tears came off with it. "Because I'd reacted the same way when I found out that's what they'd done to me."
"To you?"
He huffed a laugh. "Except I failed. I wasn't what they wanted and so they tried again. With you."
Still a bit dumbfounded, I stared at him while my mind whirled. They'd made me. On purpose. And not even the one time. They'd done it to Dex too. What kind of fucked up person would do this?
But they weren't people. They were angels.
Chapter 20
I spent the rest of the Saturday and Sunday going through the books Dex had left me. Ayden had come by a few times to check on me, but I reassured her that I was fine. Just got some upsetting news.
Thankfully, it was enough to keep her from checking up on me the rest of the weekend. There was so much on my mind that I just couldn’t handle all the questions and energy that came with socializing.
Dex, the saint, came by with food periodically through the day. He seemed to understand that I needed time alone. Of course, he would though. He’d been me not too long ago. Dex knew exactly how I was feeling right now.
The books didn’t have a whole lot of information that was useful to me. It was basically filled with a lot of doom and gloom. The prophecy didn’t say who the Watcher was only that they would see the end of times and be able to change it for their will. I hadn’t changed a vision in my life.
Until…the other day.
Never in my life had I ever changed a vision I had from coming true. Not even when my neighbor’s dog was about to be ran over by a car. It had been so small. So simple to keep it from happening and yet my yelling for the cute little Pomeranian to watch out had only caused the dog to rush into the street, running happily toward me.