Beautifully Unnatural: A Young Adult Paranormal Boxed Set (116 page)

Gabby brushed the sand from her knee. “Anyway, the dreams I have leave me tired and jumpy, but also inspired to draw.”

“Why is that crazy?”

Gabby hesitated, digging her toes into the sand before continuing. “Because…I draw the future.”

“Why do you think that?” Alexander’s mind hummed with questions, but he forced himself to take it slow.

“Twice now I’ve drawn things that eventually came true.”

He watched her as she continued to bury her feet, her eyes flicking to his every few seconds, no doubt gauging his reaction. Could she honestly have some sort of ability to see the future? Such an ability was rare, even amongst angels. But if so, how did she, a human, come to possess it? Was it a gift from Heaven or…a curse from hell? Maybe when Forras had marked her, could he have somehow passed along the ability?

An electric current of panic shot through him at the thought of her connection with the demon. “What things?” he asked.

“It’s personal.”

“More personal than my telling you about being a fallen angel?” When she didn’t look up, he continued. “I thought we were going to be honest with each other.” He had to know. If she had some sort of connection with Forras, it could be too late to save her.

Oh, dear God! No.

She took a deep breath. “I came down stairs the other night and found my dad drunk, passed out on a sofa, with a bloody shirt.”

“I’m sorry.” Alexander’s heart tightened at the thought of what she must be feeling. “But what—”

“It was the exact same scene I drew in a picture eight months ago, right down to the empty bottle of booze on the floor.”

Eight months ago? Then it couldn’t be Forras.

He released a long breath, and his blood started to move again. “You said there were two times.” Alexander saw the terror painted in Gabby’s eyes and he wanted to gather her into his arms. Fearing he might never let her go again if he did, he clasped her hands instead.

How could she face demons and not shed a tear yet just speaking about this made her tremble?

“I told Sammy the visions started after the car accident that killed my mother, but that isn’t technically true. I drew one before that, a picture of my mother lying next to a mangled car.” She shuddered. “I drew my mother’s death a year before it happened.”

Unable to resist her sorrow-filled gaze any longer, Alexander took her in his arms and held her for a moment. His heart broke as her body shook in his embrace.

I caused your mother’s death.

He repeated it over and over in his head, but couldn’t bring himself to say it aloud. He gulped, trying to swallow the boulder sized lump in his throat. Why couldn’t he just say it? But if he confessed, she’d never forgive him.

Holding her head against his shoulder, he breathed in the smell of her apple-scented hair. Kissing the top of her head, he whispered, “I’m sorry.”

Patronus, who’d been chasing seagulls up and down the beach, suddenly turned and ran toward them, barking fiercely.

“Patronus, stop. It’s just Alex.” Gabby stood up and reached for the dog’s collar.

“No, this is good,” Alexander said as he closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.

“What?”

He looked up at her. “Patronus is protecting you. I started to get…well, I…”

“Oh.” Gabby glanced away as her face flushed.

Alexander climbed to his feet to stand next to her. “Well, I guess we worked out our issue about being alone together. Anytime I get too worked up, Patronus will set me straight.”

Her flush deepened, spreading up to the tips of her ears. “Is that why you got him for me?”

“He’s your protector,” he said softly. “If a demon is anywhere near you, he’ll bark. Now that you’ve been marked by Forras other demons will know you’re an easier target.”

She looked down at his bare feet then back at him. “Forras. He went nuts when Forras came near me in the woods. Is he the only demon around here?”

“No. Half the players on the football team are demons. That’s why I didn’t want you anywhere near them. And why I didn’t want you walking through the woods alone. You have to be careful. Take Patronus with you everywhere you go.”

“What about Sammy and cheerleading? It doesn’t seem safe for either of us to be at practice with demons so close by.”

“You’ll be safe. They won’t try anything in public and they wouldn’t challenge Sammy. They’re a bunch of cowards. That’s why she joined cheerleading, to try to protect people from them.” Alexander stroked her cheek and kissed her forehead. “You’re amazing. I can’t believe you’re taking this so well.”

“I know it sounds strange but I’m just happy not to be insane. I feel like I have a purpose now or something.” She leaned into him. “I think I can handle just about anything. Anything but you lying to me.” Looking up at him pleadingly, she said, “Please, now that I know everything, you can be honest with me. I don’t care how bad or evil it is, just tell me. I’m sick of secrets in my life.”

Alexander felt a knot rise in his throat. Somehow, he had to tell her the truth about what happened a year ago, eventually. “I promise.”

****

Gabby’s head swarmed as she tried to process everything Alexander had told her about angels and Heaven. How he’d appeared different in his angel form when he saved her that afternoon opposed to when he’d carried her out of the woods. There were so many new questions haunting her. How did his wings feel? Was there a chance that he’d have to leave her and return to Heaven one day?

Too many questions.

Gabby sat on the floor, petting Patronus’ belly and flipping through her drawings as she waited for her father to return. She couldn’t believe she’d shared her secret with Alexander. And surprisingly, the familiar anxiety that would have nearly killed her six months ago barely made a ripple. Not a glimmer of haunting sadness, dark all-consuming grief, or sting of fear took over, only the feeling of a healing scab turning into a scar. She was in control and with no medicine. For the first time in over a year, life gave her a purpose and hope.

She continued to skim through the sketches but they all looked the same, showing abstract views of things yet to come. Something was missing, though. She could feel it.

The dark swirls with strange animal-like features were obviously demons. Large puffy white wings shrouded in gold and pale blues represented angels, yet all the pictures had a common element. No faces, no marks of any kind that would clue her in to whom the images were of.

She held one in her hand for a while, following the strokes on the page with her fingers. Dark merged with light in a sea of color, spinning like a tornado in what looked like an alleyway. Something about the scene nagged at her, as though the picture had a significance she couldn’t make out, but what?

Around two in the morning, Patronus lifted his head. A minute later, she heard the tires of her father’s car crunching down the gravel driveway. The door clicked then slammed shut and the sound of shuffling feet filled the silence.
He’s drunk again.

She crawled into bed and Patronus jumped up to join her, settling at her feet. For the first time, she welcomed the dreams, hoping they might reveal something, anything that could help save her father, protect them from Forras, or show her if she’d lose Alexander to Heaven.

Chapter Ten

Gabby tiptoed down the stairs, avoiding the third step so as not to wake her father with its inevitable creaking. Attaching the leash to Patronus’ collar, she opened the front door a few inches, just until it began to squeak, and squeezed through.

A cool breeze was coming in from the ocean, making it almost a pleasant temperature. Almost.

Heading down the path leading into the woods, Patronus stopped, looked around then darted forward, yanking Gabby along with him. “Patronus, wait. Slow down.”

He dragged her to a clearing where she discovered Sammy sitting on a fallen tree trunk. Her friend’s arms were wrapped around some guy, their lips locked in a passionate kiss. The kind of kiss she longed to share with Alex.

Not wanting to disturb them, Gabby tried to pull Patronus away quietly, but he tugged the leash from her hand. Prancing up to Sammy, he happily rubbed against her leg.

Startled, the guy jumped up, his eyes bright with fear. Recognizing him as the smaller boy from the group she’d met on the beach, Boon, Gabby turned to see what had spooked him, but nothing was there.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt. Patronus, here, has a mind of his own.” Gabby patted the dog on his head then grabbed his leash.

“Oh, uh, it’s okay. We were just talking,” Sammy said, fidgeting with the hem of her hot pink mini-skirt.

“Looked like more than just talking, if you ask me,” Gabby teased.

“You can’t say anything,” Sammy said, her expression suddenly serious. “I mean, to Alex.” She grasped Gabby’s arm, her eyes wide. “Please, Gabby.”

“Well, okay, but why don’t you want Alex to know? Is he really that over-protective?”

“It’s not that.” Boon stepped closer. “I’m not good enough for Sammy.”

“Don’t say that.” Sammy let go of Gabby’s arm and leaned into Boon. “He just doesn’t understand you’re nothing like them.”

“Like who?”

Sammy and Boon looked at her as if she’d just missed the punch line of a joke.

Boon…Alex…friends…football. “Oh!”

“I think she gets it, Sammy,” Boon said, crouching down to pet Patronus.

She watched Patronus relish the attention, rolling onto his back to allow Boon access to his belly. “But I don’t understand. I thought Patronus protected me from demons. If you’re a—”

“He protects you from harm,” Sammy interrupted. “Boon isn’t a threat to you. He isn’t a threat to anyone.” Sammy crouched down next to Boon and looked at him with so much compassion and love, Gabby felt a spike of jealousy. She longed to have Alexander look at her like that. To be a real couple.

“Gabby, please. Just promise me you won’t tell.”

She’d just made Alexander promise to tell her everything. How could she lie to him now?

“Please, Gabby,” Sammy pleaded.

“If asked, I won’t lie. But I won’t volunteer anything either.” She placed her hands on her hips. “That’s the best I can do.” Having friends definitely complicated things.

“I guess that’s better than nothing,” Sammy said with a sigh. “I’m sorry we put you in this situation.”

“I better go.” Boon stood then kissed Sammy on the cheek. They stared into each other’s eyes for a moment, and then he took off into the woods.

“I still don’t understand, Sammy. Why don’t you want Alex to know about Boon? Does he not want you dating anyone? Or is it just Boon?” Maybe it had to do with that whole rule about angels being forbidden from falling in love. If falling for a human was bad, a demon was out of the question. “I mean, if he’s different from the others—”

“It’s personal,” Sammy said, staring after Boon, even though he was long gone. “Please, I don’t want to have to choose between them. How could anyone choose between two people they love?” Sammy looked down, her normal peppy nature taunted with sorrow.

Gabby didn’t want to be the cause of her having to choose. Sammy was the first true friend she’d ever had and the last thing she wanted was to hurt her.

“I won’t tell him.” Gabby just prayed Alexander wouldn’t bring it up. But then, why would he?

Sammy threw her arms around Gabby, giving her a squeeze. “Thanks!” Releasing her, she stepped back and beckoned with a tilt of her head. “Come on, we better get to cheerleading practice. I don’t want my brother asking why it took me so long to get there.”

“We can use Patronus as an excuse.” Gabby pulled on Patronus’ leash, steering him back toward the path. “Let’s go drop him off at my house and we can walk to cheerleading practice from there.”

“Sounds good. I can’t believe summer’s almost over. Soon we’ll be going to school together.” With the bounce back in her step, Sammy led the way down the path toward Gabby’s house.

After dropping Patronus off, Sammy chatted all the way to practice but Gabby couldn’t focus on a single word she said. What would happen if Alexander found redemption? If a demon could fall in love with an angel than anything was possible.

****

“Go, Gabby! You can do it!” Sammy cheered as Gabby climbed to the top of a human pyramid at the start of practice. Everyone knew by now that Gabby preferred the bottom, but she was determined to conquer her fear.

“You’re looking good up there, Babe,” Forras called from the sidelines. He and a few others, still dressed in football pads and jerseys, had come to crash their practice.

Gabby refused to look at him. Just his voice was enough to make her skin crawl. “My name’s not
Babe
,” she ground out. “And I wouldn’t be so cocky. With the way you guys practiced today, the fans will be coming to watch us cheer while you make complete fools of yourselves on the field.” Although her nerves frayed with each inch she climbed, her animosity for the insufferable jerk fueled her onward. How could she act like this guy was normal when she knew otherwise?

Reaching the top, she smiled smugly then did a double back flip off the top and landed lightly on her feet.