Celestial Beginnings (Nephilim Series) (27 page)

“I don’t get too much sleep on the weekends, but I at least try to get a couple hours on weeknights.”

He was in shock knowing, that any mortal needed more rest than that. Then he remembered that this had been going on for over a month. “How do you function? You have to be dead on your feet.”

“Caffeine!
Lots and lots of caffeine!”

“Well, let’s hope they don’t come tonight.
If they do, remember that I’m right here.” With those last words, they snuggled down for the night. Malachi waited until he knew Trinity had drifted off to sleep before soon following.

******

Malachi woke to the sun shining through the window. Looking back at the clock, he realized they had been sleeping for a good six hours. That was when he heard it, a subtle but definite snore. Looking toward the other side of the bed, he saw Trinity. She was lying on her stomach and was buried amidst all the covers and pillows. She looked so peaceful that he didn’t want to disturb her.

Slowly and carefully, he climbed out of bed and slipped on a pair of pants.
As he headed for the kitchen, he remembered the comment he said about having breakfast in bed. She’s has to eat something too though, he thought.

He looked around for ideas on something to make.
Never learning how to cook, he was limited on the food in his house. If it couldn’t be nuked or eaten as is, he didn’t have it. This always worked out well for him, but put a damper on things now.

Deciding to go simple today and pick up stuff later, he grabbed two bowls out of the cupboard for cereal.
After further examination, he found frozen waffles, but then noticed they were a week expired. Screw it, he thought as he tossed them into the toaster.

For a last minute grab, he snatched a banana.
Looking at everything he had come up with, he felt pretty proud of himself. Sure, it wasn’t a high quality breakfast, but it would work for today.

He had just picked up the tray when he heard a bloodcurdling scream that made his blood run cold.
Knowing that it was Trinity made it even worse, and he dropped everything he was holding. He started to think the worst as he was running to the bedroom. Had his property been breached? What he saw when he reached the bedroom made his heart hurt. Trinity was thrashing around on the bed…kicking and swinging at nothing there.

Rushing over to her, he tried to wake her up.
She wouldn’t wake, but she did stop moving. Tears were running down her face and she was breathing heavy.

“He shouldn’t have had to die that way.”

Her voice broke as she said the words, but he could still understand them. He had no idea what she was dreaming about, but knew he wanted to get her out of wherever she had ventured. Giving her another shake, he tried again to wake her up. “Trinity, come back to me baby.”

She slowly opened her eyes and looked around the room.
When her gaze landed on him, she flew into his arms and held on tight. He could feel her shaking and started to run his hand up and down her back to sooth her. Berating himself, he knew he shouldn’t have left her, especially since he told her that he would be there.

Remembering what she said while she was sleeping, he thought of the one time he had said those words.
It was a while ago when a longtime friend of his was tortured and killed right in front of him. The anguish was almost unbearable, and he prayed that, for her sake, her dream wasn’t as bad as that was for him.

She was still gripping onto him and he wondered if talking would help ease her sooner.
“Tell me what happened.”

Shaking her head against his chest, she stayed quiet.

“Okay.
When you’re ready…” Why wouldn’t she confide in him?

Once she relaxed enough, she let out a long breath and plopped herself back down on the bed.
“Ugh! This sucks!” Looking at him, she sighed. “Did you know that lying in bed and sleeping used to be my favorite things to do? I have such a comfy bed too, cushioned…heated…the works. Now I avoid it like the plague.”

“We’ll figure it out.
They’ll stop, and then you can show me this “comfy” bed of yours.” He laid down next to her. “You have to tell me what are in these dreams though, so I can help you determine what’s causing them.”

“I will, just not right now, okay?”

“That’s fine.” Remembering things that were said last night, he had to reiterate a few things. “Do you have plans for today?”

“I have to grade projects that were turned in on Friday.
It should take a good portion of the day. Why?”

The anticipation in her voice killed him because he knew she was expecting to do something together.
That made this even harder and he knew he was about to sound like a dick. “I needed to know so I could determine who would be with you today. I have some work to do, or else it would be me, but I can’t.”

The look on her face almost made him change his plans, but he couldn’t postpone finding the dickhead that attacked her.
Through the entire explanation, he wanted to yell and break everything he could get his hands on. His self-control was paper thin, and the only reason he held it together was the thought that Trinity needed him. When he found him, he would have to be sure to bring someone along to pick him up or else he might turn him into tree mulch and laugh as he begs for mercy.

“I told you last night.
It’s not necessary.” Except for today, she sounded more resolved.

He knew if he tried to intimidate her, she would laugh in his face, so he went the other route.
“Please. Just until I find him. I need to know you are safe.”

She stared at him for a moment then pointed her finger in his direction.
“Fine, but not a moment longer.”

“Deal”

With that settled, he decided to lighten up the mood.
He pulled her towards him. “How about that breakfast now?”

“Okay, what did you have in mind?”
She flashed a giant smile.

Everyone always says that actions speak louder than words.
He quickly ducked down and covered his head with the comforter. It didn’t take him long to find the spot that quickly made her cry out.

Chapter
14

“This has gotten out of hand.
No more! I’m not allowing it!” Trinity was pacing Malachi’s office, waiting for him to return. She was sick of having someone follow her around all the time. She couldn’t even get up and go pee at a restaurant without someone waiting outside the bathroom door.

It had been two weeks and Seth had not surfaced; he was nowhere to be found, therefore she still had her shadow.
Nicci didn’t even want to hang out with her, wanting her own privacy as well.

Then to top it all off, she had a doctor’s appointment today.
Nothing major, just to get some sleeping pills. All in all, she was trying to keep it from Malachi; he wouldn’t like it. Sure, as it turned out, she sleeps fine when she’s with him, but she wanted to be able to sleep whenever she wanted to and not have to wait for him. Low and behold, she got in a fight with Gideon in the waiting room because he refused to leave her alone with her doctor. What the hell’s next? Is someone going to have to be in the room with her at her next gynecology appointment as well?

So she was done!
Gideon, looking totally at ease as he lounged in a chair, ignored her while she swept back and forth. “I mean, how much longer do we have to play Big Brother here?”

“I’m just doing what I’m told to do.”
Gideon said.

Trinity plopped down in a chair across from Gideon.
“Yeah, right. You just love to torment me.”

For some reason or another, Gideon was the main person that usually watched her.
Trinity believed it was because he always complained how much he hated it, and she noticed that Malachi loved to piss him off. Because they were around each other so much, Trinity was now immune to his different mood swings. She could even consider him almost a friend, but would poke someone’s eye out before admitting it out loud.

He didn’t even look up at her as he took out one of his daggers to clean underneath his nails.
“That is a plus.”

Narrowing her eyes at him, she leaned forward to whisper.
“You should be nice to me. I know where you spend most of your nights.” The threat was not so easily ignored, and his head snapped up in surprise. She couldn’t help but smile.

“How?”

Trinity shrugged. “Receipts in your car…”

Gideon smiled mischievously at her.
“You’re cunning, maybe me and you should run away together?”

She was thrown off at the question and frowned.
He had never said anything like this to her before, but she quickly understood when she knew Malachi had walked in just in time to hear what Gideon had said. What was it between these two? Trinity watched as Malachi’s shoulder’s stiffened. He then walked over to her, leaned down, and gave her a chaste kiss. “Quit encouraging him or I’m going to have to beat him within an inch of his life.”

“I’d like to see you try.”
Gideon snapped back.

“Children, behave!”
This is what she had to deal with whenever they were in a room together.

Trinity got out of her seat and quickly followed Malachi to his desk.
“We need to talk.” She said with determination.

“Oh, here we go.”
Gideon rolled his eyes.

“Shut your mouth, whoremonger!”
Trinity turned and snapped at Gideon, but obviously her temper didn’t affect him because all he did was smirk.

She turned back to Malachi, who was staring at her and waiting patiently.
Taking a deep breath, she continued quickly. “The escorts need to stop. I’m a grown woman and would like to be able to be by myself.”

Malachi was already shaking his head before she finished talking, and she knew this was not going to end in her favor.
“We’re following up on a few different leads, just be patient.”

Trinity groaned.
“Easy for you to say, you’re not the one constantly under scrutiny. Do we have a time estimate here?”

“It shouldn’t be too much longer.”

She rolled her eyes. “Then that’s a no.” She was tired of all the vague answers.

Gideon couldn’t resist the opening to pick at Malachi.
“Maybe you can delegate to someone who could actually get the job done…” By his tone, he obviously thought that that person was him. “Then
you
can stick with the babysitting.”

“Is there any reason you need to be here right now?”
Malachi snapped at Gideon, putting him in his place.

Trinity watched as Gideon’s face closed up.
He said nothing as he got up and stormed out of the room, slamming the door in the process.

“You know, you should really try and be nicer to him.
Maybe then he’d be nicer to you.”

Malachi gave her a look that could shatter glass.
“I don’t need to hear about how great you think he is.” He snapped. “Plus, we’ve been this way with each other for years. It’s not something you’re going to fix.”

“If you have a problem with Gideon and me, maybe you shouldn’t have him watch me all the time.
Or better yet…do as he said. You can take some time, and we can spend it together. God knows that hasn’t happened lately.” She was almost at the point of pleading. What could she say, she missed him!

Malachi looked at her like she had grown an extra head.
“What are you talking about? We sleep together every night.”

“Exactly, sleep!
Sure, you come home, we have sex, we go to sleep, and then I get to wake up to you leaving in the morning. What a fantastic relationship!” She was starting to get pissed off. Fine, she knew he was working hard for her, but he had changed in the process. She found herself spending more time with aloof Malachi and she desperately wanted laid-back Malachi to make an appearance.

“Let me get this straight.
You would have me hand over the entire operation of making you safe?” When she didn’t deny it, he continued. “No way, not happening! It’s my job to protect you.”

“Don’t you see?
You’re not the one doing it!” Trinity yelled and waved her arms around his office to indicate his team. “They are!”

She knew she had crossed the line.
She also knew how much he was doing for her, but she wanted to watch movies, eat dinner, and joke around with him…not his team. She was about to retract her statement when he raised his voice at her.

“What the hell do you think I’m doing all day?”
There was no denying he was pissed. “Along with the other jobs that kept me busy enough, now I have to find a stalker that you managed to acquire.”

Whoa!
Wait a minute. When did this all become her fault? “I never asked you to. Next time I’ll try not to attract such a psychotic man.” Her voice was as cold as ice with her sarcastic statement.

“I didn’t mean it like that and you know it.”
Malachi acted irritated as he started sorting papers on his desk.

Trinity didn’t want to continue this conversation.
If she stayed much longer, he would probably see her cry, and she’d be damned if she let that happen. She was not weak! Was it too much to want him to love her the way she loved him? Now, she was afraid he thought of her as an innocent to save instead of the woman she was. Grabbing her purse from the chair she vacated, she headed for the door.

“Trinity!
Don’t be like this. Just give me a little more time.”

But what will be left of us by the time you do?
She wanted to ask the question but decided not to at the last minute. Opening the door, she turned and glared at him. “Fine! I’ll leave you to your work, but don’t be surprised someday if I actually do run away with Gideon.”

Slamming the door, she walked right past Gideon, only to hear a roar of anger and something smashing inside the office.

“I think you’re my new favorite person.” Gideon had caught up with her.

She shook her head at him.
Now was not the time to pit her against Malachi. “I don’t want to hear it.”

Trinity didn’t slow down until she made it outside.
Closing her eyes, she lifted her face to the sun, letting it warm her before she took a deep breath. She knew she had been too hard on him, especially with what she said last, but he had made her so angry. She was still angry, she thought, as the tears were preparing to fall. Wiping her eyes before anyone saw, she turned toward Gideon. “What do we do now?”

“Anything you want.
I’m here no matter what.” He said as a matter of fact.

This just made her roll her eyes and become irritated all over again.
“Yeah, because you have to.”

After examining her face longer than expected, he let out a deep sigh.
“Let’s say that today
I don’t
have to. Today, I’ll be with you because I want to be.” They started walking towards his car and were walking next to each other. “But if you tell anybody about this, I’ll kill you in your sleep.” The added comment caused her to elbow him in the stomach, but she did let out a small chuckle.

When they were both seated in the car, he started the engine and stared out the windshield.
“Where to?”

She shook her head at Gideon’s distant personality.
What would it take to crack that hard shell, she thought?

Bringing herself back to the moment at hand, she concentrated on what she wanted to do.
She needed to unwind, that was for sure. Nowhere too crowded, nowhere too noisy…she got it. “To the Art Museum, please.” Walking around to observe all the different pieces would definitely help in distracting her. Plus, it might be interesting with Gideon, someone as hard headed as she, to talk about the art with.

Early on, she had discovered that he was an art freak like her, but she wasn’t allowed to say anything.
She had found flecks of paint on his clothes and charcoal under his nails. Who knows what all he’s done in his spare time? Anytime she tried to bring it up, he would brush her off or change the subject. Therefore, he wouldn’t say anything, but she knew he was secretly pleased with her decision. 

As she rode to the museum, she stared out the window thinking about Malachi and everything happening lately.
Truly there was only one person that she blamed…Seth. If he could have just stayed away, she would have been fine. No escorts, no curfews… Nicole was acting strange, and even the kids in her class were a little weirded out by the mysterious people sitting in the corner of the class. All except for Hugh anyway. This had him on high alert and he constantly checked on her during school hours. It was all so frustrating, and she wished everything could go back to normal.

******

Malachi heard the mug break but felt nothing as it shattered in his hand. Staring out the window, he witnessed the easy comradeship between Trinity and Gideon. Already angry from their fight, the sight put him over the top.

He hated every day that he left the two of them together.
The appreciation and fondness seeped off of him in waves when Trinity was in the room, even though he tried to hide it. The only reason Malachi had him look after Trinity so much, was because he was the best warrior he knew, besides himself. If that wasn’t the case, Gideon would never be in her company, if he had anything to say about it. But the only way Malachi felt comfortable enough to concentrate on work, was him knowing that the best was watching over her.

Didn’t she understand that he wanted to be out there with her?
He hated every damn day that he left her in the company of one of his team members. It took a week, with him being a dick to everybody, to finally have Terah point out that he was jealous.

He couldn’t trust anybody in finding this asshole before he was able to.
There was no one that would be as diligent, and he needed the guy found before he came after Trinity again. From the moment she confided in him, he knew that this is what he had to do.

It’s his job, his responsibility…it always has been.
This is what being an exalted one is all about. When your biological father is an angel, there are certain expectations of you. One of those expectations is to put all others above himself; even if that means he doesn’t get to hole up with the woman he…

Shaking off that thought, he walked back over to his desk.
Sitting down, he started shuffling through the papers on Seth Masters, but couldn’t fully concentrate. Doesn’t she know that this is not an overnight process? Granted, there have been a few roadblocks. This guy was harder to find than originally anticipated, but there was no doubt in Malachi’s mind that he
could
find him. It was only a matter of time; something Trinity was not willing to give him more of.

Malachi placed the papers aside, needing to get other things done.
Having a man down all the time was a bit of a hindrance, but he had been able to swing it so far. Right now, Gemariah and Terah were taking care of a positive possession, while Tori was following a lead about a possible non-violent demon.

He didn’t like sending operatives on solo missions, but he had to on occasion.
Fortunately, in this instance the demon was nonviolent and might not pose too much of a threat Nonviolent just means they don’t physically attack, but they do their part on corrupting mankind by posing as politicians, attorneys, and more. You never know though, a demon is a demon and none like to be banished.