Charade (29 page)

“Keeping a diary of your trip and the things you see and do there will help you remember it years from now. I think you will find that as you grow older, memories are very important. When you are old like me, you will enjoy looking back on this and remembering.”

It was perfect. I threw my arms around her and hugged her tight. “Thank you so much! I love you, Gran.”

She laughed. “I love you, too.”

Suddenly, the horrible threat that the Dream Walker made whipped through my mind. No one I loved was safe. I swallowed and stepped back, feeling nauseated. My being here put Gran at risk.

Where was Sam? We needed to leave. The faster we got on that plane, the faster everyone here would be safe.
Sam?

He knocked lightly on the back door and I ran to open it. He was there, suitcase in hand and a duffle bag slung over his shoulder. He was wearing scuffed-up jeans and a gray and white striped T-shirt.

What took you so long?
I demanded, pulling him inside and closing the door. The morning sky was just beginning to show signs of day and the cool air came rushing in with him.

I was just making sure Logan was okay.
His eyes narrowed on my face.

How was his first night at my mom’s?

He said it was fine. I think he’ll be okay.

That’s great. Now you won’t have to worry about him.

Sam didn’t seem completely convinced about this.

“Good morning, Sam,” Gran called, setting a large plate of muffins on the counter.

“Morning. Thank you for letting me leave my truck here while we’re gone.”

“Have some breakfast; we should be going,” Gran said, looking at the clock.

My stomach revolted at the thought of food, but I grabbed a muffin from the counter and pretended to eat it. When Gran wasn’t looking, I handed it to Sam. He frowned, but took it and ate it in one bite.

The ride to the airport was quiet and uneventful. I could feel some tension from Sam and noticed the way his eyes swept the streets and road behind us. Did he think that we might get ambushed on the way? The scroll felt heavy in my bag and the closer we got to getting rid of it, the more anxious I felt.

When we finally said good-bye to Gran, I felt a little guilty for the relief I felt. Maybe now she would be safe and I wouldn’t have to pretend so much to be excited for this trip. Cole was already here, sitting at the gate with most of our class. After Sam and I checked in with Mrs. Britt and her odd assistant Ms. Merriweather, we went and sat next to him.

“Ready for this?” Cole asked in low tones.

I nodded. Sam was busy watching the people around us, looking for signs of danger. I slumped in the seat close to Cole and resigned myself that this is the way the trip would be. Asking Sam to relax would be pointless. He would be wound tight until this Treasure Map was no longer in our possession.

Another tremor decided to run through me, shaking my arms even as I tried to hold still. “Whoa,” Cole said. “Are you okay?”

Sam turned to glance at me.

“I’m good.” The overhead lights seemed harsh, not really hurting my head, but not really helping either. “I’m going to go to the bathroom.”

Cole jumped up to escort me at the same time that Sam appeared at my side. I stifled an eye roll. “It is right over there. I’ll be fine.”

“We’ll walk you,” Cole said.

I didn’t say anything and tried to ignore the glances of my classmates as I was ‘escorted’ to the ladies room that was only feet away.
Are you going to burst in there and search it too?
I asked grumpily.

“Call for me if you need help,” Sam said, ignoring my barb and tapping my head before I could walk in the restroom.

In the bathroom, the lights weren’t any dimmer and I did my best to ignore them. I had a sinking feeling that whatever this new power of mine was had to do with my head and eyes again. I turned on the taps to let the cool water slip through my fingers and dampened a paper towel to blot over my eyes and forehead.

“What’s wrong with you?” a voice from behind me asked.

I jumped and spun around toward the voice. “Gemma? What are you doing here?”

She shrugged. “I wanted to talk to you.”

“About what?”

“Cole.”

“What about him?”

“He’s special, you know?”

I nodded; my brother was very special. His aura proved it with the unique shade of color that he carried around him permanently. Is that what this was about? Gemma did say that she knew why Cole’s aura was different than everyone else’s. “You never did tell me about Cole’s aura. There’s something about him I should know, isn’t there?”

Gemma nodded. “You said you heard your father the last time you were in the InBetween?”

“Yes. Airis wouldn’t let me see him.” The memory left a small pang in my chest. “But what does that have to do with Cole?”

“Your father must be a Supernal Being.”

“What’s that?”

“It’s a step down from an angel.”

“My dad never had any powers,” I said, head reeling.

“Supernal Beings usually don’t. But if he did, they probably would have been easy to hide. They are humans, kind of like angels on Earth. They are inherently good people, people that don’t have any kind of malice within them. They can’t be influenced by Satan’s darkness. These people tend to take on armed-justice roles, to keep peace and balance here.”

“My dad was a police officer,” I murmured.

Gemma nodded, her wide gray eyes expressive. “They have an inherent need to help and protect others, especially those they care about. A police officer would have been a natural career choice for him.”

I was surprised by this, but honestly, I wasn’t shocked. Too much had been happening to me since last year that my dad turning out to be some angel on Earth wasn’t a huge revelation. In fact, it just made all my memories and feelings about him feel validated. He was truly a good man and if anyone could be considered an angel—a Supernal Being—it would be him. “Did my dad know what he was?”

Gemma shook her head. “Probably not. Most people have no idea that they might be more than just a good person. But I think that’s why you could hear him. He must still have his complete form.”

“What do you mean?”

“When you die, your soul leaves your body. You go to Heaven as a spirit; there’s no need for your complete form. Supernal Beings tend to keep their form and all their memories. Sometimes God calls upon them to spread his word or do certain acts.”

My father could be sent back to Earth by God?
I pushed the thought away, terrified of getting my hopes up of someday seeing him again, knowing how bad it feels when you get so close and then nothing. “But demons have bodies. Aren’t demons sinners who have died and went to Hell?”

Gemma nodded patiently. “Think about it, Hev. Demons don’t really look like humans, do they?”

I thought back to the half-man, half-crocodile and shivered. “I guess not.”

“Their souls are just twisted into different evil forms.”

The Dream Walker didn’t
look
like a demon. What did that mean? “Why are you telling me this now? And what does this have to do with my brother?”

Gemma shifted and glanced away.

“Cole’s a Supernal Being, isn’t he?”

Gemma nodded. “It’s why his aura is different than everyone else’s. Your father’s would have looked a lot like Cole’s.”

“Why are you telling me now?”

She was silent a moment before she spoke. “I have a feeling that this trip is going to be rough. The people, if you can call them that, who want that scroll aren’t going to give up. Just be careful, okay?”

“Why can’t you come with us?”

“This is your journey to take, but don’t worry, I’ll be around. Watching.”

I had a feeling she would be watching more of Cole than of me and Sam. She cared about him and couldn’t admit it to herself. “You think Cole is going to put himself in danger.”

“It would be his natural instinct. If he sees something dangerous or threatening, he’s going to go after it.”

“You think he’ll get hurt?” I chewed my lip.

“No!” She denied the idea fiercely, but I saw something different in her eyes: fear. “I’ve been training with him. He’s strong and a good fighter, but I haven’t had enough time with him…”

Did she mean enough time to train him or time to be with him?

“He doesn’t have your dagger,” I murmured, beginning to worry too. “No way he could get through security with it.”

Gemma pulled it out of a holster around her waist. “I brought it for him.” She held it out. “Give it to him for me.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“
You
give it to him.” Why was she hiding from him?

“I can’t.” Her voice cracked.

“Why not?”

She stared at me silently.

I shrugged and turned away.

“Wait.”

I turned back. “Thank you for telling me this. I’ve been wondering. I don’t get why you haven’t told him yet?”

Gemma remained mutinously quiet.

I sighed and turned away once more. Her quiet words stopped me, but this time I didn’t turn around. I recognized that it was easier for her to admit her feelings when I wasn’t looking right at her.

“He’s not as human as we all thought.”

I waited, praying she would explain herself.

“It was easier before… to deny how I felt… when he was just human. A human and a fallen angel together is laughable. But now…” Her voice trailed off and I understood.

Gemma was totally falling in love with my brother and trying like hell to fight it. A human and a fallen angel was a good excuse to deny her feelings, but a fallen angel and a Supernal Being must be a lot more plausible in her world.

“It’s okay to love him,” I told her quietly, my back still turned.

She said nothing, but I knew she was there. Her absolute silence was clear enough. Gemma the warrior fallen angel was scared of loving someone. “What happened to you?” I whispered.

I waited for her answer, and just when I thought she might say something, a head poked around the corner.

“Geez, Heven, Sam’s practically wearing a hole in the carpet out here. What’s taking so long?” Cole asked.

I stiffened as his eyes went past me to Gemma. His whole aura and body shifted. If Gemma could see his aura like I could, then she wouldn’t be afraid he didn’t feel the same as she did.

“I’ll see you later,” I said to Gemma, giving her a little nod, trying to tell her that what we talked about would stay private.

For now, anyway.

On my way past Cole I whispered, “Talk to her.”

I went out the door where Sam hurried to my side, questions in his eyes. “Gemma’s in there.” I leaned against the wall, acting as look out as my brother disappeared a little farther into the bathroom. Several minutes later, the announcer came on to tell us to board the plane. Cole appeared at my side silently.

“Thanks,” he murmured as we all went forward to line up. I stared at him, willing him to give me some clue as to what was happening, but Mrs. Britt began counting us all and taking last-minute attendance. From the front of the line, I caught a glimpse of Kimber glaring at the three of us as we took our places in the back of the line. My stomach knotted at the thought of sharing a room with her for the trip.

Ms. Merriweather stopped in front of us and smiled with a clipboard in her hands. “I have your room number assignments here.”

I glanced down at the paper on her board and my focus went right to the list of names and numbers. My eyes did that focusing thing again and I felt an odd click in my brain. I blinked and looked up, shaking my head slightly.

“Don’t forget your room number; you’ll need to know it as soon as we get to the hotel,” Ms. Merriweather said and then moved off down the line.

Sam placed his palm at the small of my back. “Want to write it down, Hev, so you don’t forget?” He held out a white card and a pen.

“Uh, no, but thanks.”

He gave me an odd sort of look and I just shrugged and pulled out my boarding pass. I wouldn’t forget my room number. It appeared I wouldn’t forget anyone’s room number. I closed my eyes as if to prove what I was thinking. A crystal clear image of the paper appeared behind my eyes. I could see every single person’s name and coordinating room number with ease. No, I wouldn’t forget my room number.

I had a feeling I wouldn’t forget anything I didn’t
want
to forget ever again.

Chapter Fifteen

Heven

I couldn’t help but get caught up in the fun of the trip. The excited laughter around us on the plane, the tiny bags of peanuts and headphones for a movie… It was all pretty cool. And it made it easy to forget this high up in the air that our lives were in danger. I had no problem at all filling in the very first page of the travel diary that Gran gave me. It felt good to have some fun, to write out something that I would look back on and enjoy.

Our first stop in Italy was Tuscany. We were driving by bus to Florence, the capital of Tuscany. As we drove, I watched the rolling hills, the green expanse of grass and the brilliance of the clear, blue sky. It was all so gorgeous I had an entire notebook page filled in minutes, detailing the scenery that stole my breath.

I felt a warm stroke down my arm and reluctantly pulled away from the window to look at Sam. His eyes were like warm sunshine and his mouth was curved up in a smile.
Having a good time?

Oh, yes. It’s so beautiful here, so different. Don’t you think?

“It’s a little hard to see with a window hogger sitting next to me.”

I gasped. “I’m sorry.”

He laughed. “Don’t be. I actually like seeing your excitement more than anything out the window.”

I laced my fingers with his and tugged him closer. “Look.”

We came upon a vineyard and we all cheered when the bus turned in. Of course, the teachers were quick to tell us sternly that we would not be sampling any of the wine. But we did get a tour of the rooms where they made and stored the wine, and we got to see the miles and miles of open land where rows and rows of grape vines grew, sun-kissed with the leaves swaying slowly in the warm summer breeze.