Embers (The Wings of War Book 1) (34 page)

Biting into a spoonful of the sundae, my thoughts wandered, and I found myself thinking about how some of Sawyer’s black hair was always falling into his eye and he’d have to brush it away, tucking it behind his ear. 

A shock ran through my body at the image and I quickly blocked it from my mind. 

The conversation around the table was all about the game and I wasn’t in the least bit interested.  Boredom was making me sleepy and it wasn’t long before I was staring out the window, lost in my own little world.  The voices around the table became a distant, buzzing sound as I watched the cars in line at the drive-thru inch by. 

Seeing a black vehicle parked in the back of the lot stopped my heart and tingled my skin.  How many people would drive a Hummer in a little town like this? I was willing to bet none.  I had to stretch in my seat to see the vehicle as it appeared and disappeared when cars passed in front of it. 

My mind raced and a quiet thrill rushed through me. 
Sawyer is out there.

It must have been written all over my face because Maddie, peering across the table, asked if I was okay.

“I have an upset stomach, that’s all.”

When I looked out the window again, the Hummer was gone.  I was an empty shell at once. 

An hour later we were finally back at Maddie’s house.  I wanted to go straight to bed, but the girls had other ideas.  After we changed into our pajamas, which varied from me and Lindsey wearing sweats and t-shirts to Hannah’s cute nighty and Maddie’s pink tank top and shorts combo, Maddie went to ransack the kitchen. 

Lindsey flipped through the stations on the television and after a lengthy search, she finally settled on Titanic.   

“Ohhh, I love this movie!”  Maddie squealed in delight, plopping down on the bed with a monster size bowl of popcorn.

“That’s just what I need to watch, a sappy love story. Really, you guys are cruel,” Hannah moaned, pressing a pillow over her head.

I felt sorry for Hannah.  I was beginning to understand the way she felt. 

It was the wee hours of the morning when the movie ended.  Ironically, Hannah and I were the only ones who stayed awake for it. 

2 Kings 19:35

And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the Lord went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses—all dead.

Sawyer ~ Thirty-One

I
van didn’t bother to speak to me as we drove back to the compound.  He knew I was angry and he let me be. I couldn’t erase the image of the human male touching Ember as if she belonged to him.  I could have snapped his head right off his body, but the part me that had somehow remained civilized throughout the years of dark insanity held me in check. 

I didn’t want to hurt anyone, especially not some teenage human who was as infatuated with Ember as I was.  The other thing that reined back my jealous rage was the blast of heat that exploded from Ember’s body when I tried to hold onto her—and the look in her eyes. 

I would have to make a decision whether to let Ember go and try to forget her or to fight for her.  But fighting for her couldn’t involve killing my competition. Somehow I’d have to convince her that she wanted me as much as I wanted her
.

I had bonded to her.  I was sure of it now.  The irrational feelings I was experiencing and the obsession I had for her told me that. 

Ember was fooling herself if she thought she could live a normal life with the star football player.  Maybe she wanted the nice house with a white picket fence and the two kids, the whole package.  But she was a Watcher and life would never be normal for her.  She’d be better off with someone like me who could handle what she was.

That jock would certainly get burned by her fire.  And she’d grow bored of him eventually.  But could I stand by and wait for that time to come?

Ember had responded to me.  It wasn’t my imagination.  She had feelings for me or she wouldn’t have offered me her soul.  The thought of tasting her sweet soul was growing more desirable by the minute.  A book in the library had confirmed what she’d said about earth Watchers and their ability to heal themselves from just about anything. 

But was the invitation still open after tonight? She
was
very upset with me.   

When we drove into the compound, there was a small gathering on the pathway.  I parked and hopped out of the Hummer, dreading the encounter.  I wouldn’t be able to detour them without raising suspicions, which prompted me to walk right into their midst.  Ivan had already slunk away into the trees.  I envied him his ability to do so and the fact that it was expected of him.

The group consisted of Kimberly, Donnelly, Gabriel and the muscled searcher, John, whose wide spaced eyes and flat nose made him resemble a feline.  Often it entered my thoughts that he looked the part of a Growler and was similar enough to Cray that they could have been considered brothers.  Unlike Cray though, John was friendly.  His unassuming manner made him an excellent gatherer for the compound.  Humans were instantly drawn into his confidence.  They would let their guard down and quickly be captured by his eyes.  Once under his spell, he was one of the crueler Demons.  He enjoyed those times when a victim
accidently
slipped out of unconsciousness to be fully awake for its death. 

The Demons separated, stepping aside when I reached them to let me pass.  I stopped though and made small talk for a few minutes before I noticed a look pass between Kimberly and Donnelly.  That look caused the hairs to rise on my neck.

“Is anything interesting going on?”  I asked, glancing between the four of them.

It was Gabrielle who spoke in her sensual, Spanish accent.  “We are going for a special hunt, Sawyer, you care to join us?”

“Why feed so soon?  It’s not necessary.”  Dread filled me. 

This time John answered. “The young humans from the town have a special gathering this time each year at the lake, near the base of the mountain.  It goes well into the night and there are many of them there.  Often times the humans will pair up and go into the woods for lovemaking.”

“It’s the perfect occasion for us to hone our skills.  Are you with us, Sawyer?”  Kimberly asked with barely controlled delight.

She knew I didn’t enjoy the killing part the way she and the others did.  She’d purposely set a trap for me so she could test what I would do. 

“What does Garrett think about this?”

“It was his idea,” Kimberly said with a grin.  Her eyebrows rose expectantly as she waited for my reaction.

“Will you leave at nightfall then?”  I needed more information.

“Of course, we will use the darkness to conceal us,” Gabrielle purred.

“I’ll think about it, but if any mistakes are made, the humans will come here searching for answers.  Are we ready to pick up and leave the place we labored so long to build?”

“We won’t be going anywhere.  Don’t worry about that,” Kimberly said with hidden meaning. 

Walking away, I was cold with fear.  What if Ember was at the lake with her friends?  The vision of the football player standing protectively beside her flashed through my mind. 

He’d be useless when the Demons arrived. 

I was decided.  I’d go to lake during the day to watch for her. If by some chance of ill fate, Ember was among the humans, I’d get her out of there before nightfall.  Even if it meant carrying her screaming off into the woods. 

The thought of that appealed to me greatly, but whether I would survive, was questionable.

Exodus 14:19

And the angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them.

Ember ~ Thirty-Two

W
hen I opened my eyes and looked at the clock, I was shocked that it was almost noon.  Covering a yawn with my hand, I quickly slipped out of the sleeping bag and tip toed to the window.  The blinds were drawn tight and I lifted a corner to peek out.  The sun was blazing high in the sky. 

Maybe if I was quiet enough, I could get changed and sneak out before the other girls woke.  I had to talk to Sawyer.  I felt compelled to explain to him that there wasn’t anything going on between Preston and me.  I was also curious to find out if he’d made a decision about my offer.  Just thinking about seeing him again made my insides do funny things. I tried to shake it off as I got dressed. 

A petite calico cat sauntered into the room. Maddie had mentioned her the night before, but she’d never made an appearance.  I reached out and stroked the fur down her back.  It was my undoing when out of her mouth popped a loud meow. 
Stupid cat.
I quickly silenced her with my mind, but Maddie’s eyes were already open.   

“Come here, Princess Kitty,” Maddie coaxed.  The cat quickly left me to join her owner on the bed. 

Maddie noticed that I was dressed and asked, “What are you doing, Ember?”  Her gaze was sharp for just waking.

“I need to get going.  It’s late,” I said quietly as I reached for my bag.

She sat straight up and said, “I don’t think so!”

“What do you mean?” I said in a harsh whisper.   

As if she was going to stop me.

“Look, it’s already lunch time and we’re supposed to head over to the bon fire at five o’clock.  It would be stupid for you to drive all the way up the mountain and then back again in that amount of time.” 

She was being practical, but what she didn’t realize was that I
wanted
to get out of going to the bon fire.

“I’m under strict orders from Preston to make sure you get there.”  She said it as if her words meant something to me. 

“There’s nothing going on between me and Preston and he has no business thinking so...or you for that matter.”  I didn’t know who I was more irritated with at the moment, but I was definitely ticked off by all the assumptions going on. 

“Why are you being so difficult?  He really likes you and he’s a nice guy. Or is the dark, dangerous guy with the Hummer the reason you don’t want to go out with Preston?”

She saw the confusion on my face and said, “Randy told me all about the little showdown after the game.  He said the guy had a death grip on you, as if the two of you had something serious going on.”

“He’s just a guy I’ve been hanging out with.  It’s really no big deal.” 

“Randy said he looked as if he was our age, but seemed more mature.  Have you been holding out on us with all your innocent, I don’t like boys, crap?” She propped her chin on her hands waiting for my reply.

I thought about making up a complete lie, but knew she was keen enough to see through it. I could tell by the way she stared at me that she wasn’t going to let the matter drop either. 

The safest route was to be a little bit honest about it.

“His name is Sawyer McCrae. He is into me, but I told him it wasn’t going to work out. I think he’s having a hard time taking no for an answer.”

“The best thing you could do then is start dating a guy like Preston.  He won’t let that jerk bother you.”

I hid a smile about Maddie’s naivety regarding the situation.  “I don’t want to go out with Preston right now.  I need space until I get more settled.” 

“Give Preston a chance.  He’ll change your mind.”

I shook my head, but the anticipation was clear on her face.  She wasn’t buying it. 

Lindsey and Hannah began stirring and I blew out an irritated breath.  No chance of escape now. Since Maddie had surveillance on me, she ran to take a shower first.  

I was going to the bon fire after all. 

It was only one day I’d have to wait to talk to Sawyer.  So why then did I suddenly feel queasy about the length of time? 

Maddie was right.  By the time we all had showers and ate the sandwiches and salad that her mom had prepared, it was well into the afternoon.  We lounged around talking for a while before we finally left for the store to pick up chips, charcoal and ice.  The mundane activities had a soothing effect on me, even though Sawyer was never far from my mind.

I drove my own truck, following Maddie’s car out of the maze-like subdivision.  We ended up being in the store much longer than I’d expected.  The girls kept running into people they knew and then Maddie saw that the tank tops were on clearance.  We spent a half an hour searching for every single one in her size.  Shopping wasn’t my favorite thing to do anyway, but with Maddie, it took on a whole new torturous dimension.