Fall For Me ((The Tate Chronicles #1)) (20 page)

“Protection Angel,” she corrected him.
“Hence the reason why we’re in this mess.”

“And where does Emma fit in?”

“That was a power play,” Grace said. “I killed one of Matthew’s boys, so he killed the closest person to me that was easily accessible. Only difference is, he doesn’t play fair.”

“She was killed by a vampire?” Ryan looked like he needed something to punch. “So why aren’t we out there staking the crap out of those…”

“Believe me,” Grace cut him off, “the one thing I want is dust on my boots, but we have to be careful. I don’t want us getting killed. Besides, she’s fine. I just spoke to her.”

“What!” Ryan and I said at the same time.

Archer smiled smugly. Oh right, twin connection. Grace hadn’t connected with me since that first time in the clearing; sometimes I wished she would fill me in a bit more.

“I was sitting in the cemetery…”

“What cemetery?” I asked. Grace ignored me.

“…and I was talking to Pa,” she put a finger on my lips to stop me talking, “when a white butterfly appeared. Emma came to tell me she was alright, and to follow my heart.”

“Since when has anyone needed to tell you that,” Archer scoffed.

She swatted him on the arm. “The point is, Emma is ok and we don’t need to worry about her.”

“So, what now?”
I asked.

“Now,” Grace said, “we go and get Charlotte and try to fix this mess.”

That sounded like a plan, and it sure did beat sitting around feeling sorry for ourselves on a Friday night.

GRACE

Saturday Morning

T
he first rays of sun peeked through my loft window; I stretched and turned towards Josh. We’d both flaked fully clothed the night before, and he was snoring softly. I took a moment to gaze at him. His dark hair was tousled and his fringe flopped over his eyes. I wished we could stay like that, frozen in time, not worrying about anything. It would be better to have him frozen awake though, and I chuckled to myself.

Instead of waking him I lay there and thought about the previous night. Charlotte was proving to be a tough nut to crack; we’d spent half the night trying to track her down before giving up. Every time I managed to pinpoint where she was, she’d be off again. She knew how to play me, thinking one thing but doing another. Or I’d finally get within listening distance, and she’d run before I had a chance to stop her. All I wanted was to talk to her; she was making it mighty hard.

“Just as stubborn as you,” Archer had said.

I saw the anguish in his eyes each time she slipped through our fingers. I knew she was trying to protect us, but didn’t she get it? I’d fallen for her, and vowed to protect her for eternity. I wasn’t going to go away that easily.

We hadn’t seen Angelica or Annie either, but they were out there somewhere, watching from their high horse waiting for the right moment to act. Angels sent to kill the innocent; I never thought I’d see the day. Technically Charlotte wasn’t innocent because she’s a vampire, but rules are made to be broken. She’s innocent in my eyes.

I sat up and threw my legs over the side of the bed. I hoped to find Charlotte today, and to get through another day and night unscathed. Then I remembered. I’d completely forgotten about our birthday party. It wasn’t going to be the same without Emma. Maybe Archer was right about it being a bad idea, but perhaps we could use it to our advantage. I was pretty sure Seth knew we were having some people over—actually I was sure the whole school knew, what with SMS—which meant he wouldn’t be able to resist showing up.

“Hey, Grace, what’s the matter?” Josh asked in a sleepy voice. I’d been deep in thought, staring at the wall, fiddling with my ring.

“Oh, just the usual,” I said, smiling. “You know, dead best friend, elusive vampire, angels on the warpath.” I shrugged. We looked at each other for a few moments then burst out laughing. I laughed so hard I had tears in my eyes, and it felt good.

Josh stroked my cheek with the back of his hand. “We’ll find her,” he said, leaning in to kiss me.

On second thought, that moment in Josh’s arms kissing him, is where I would want to be frozen.

“You know, people are going to come here tonight.”

“The party.”
He looked a little worried. “I’d forgotten about that. We could tell them not to come, that you’re not feeling up to visitors.”

“No, I actually think it will work in our favour.”

“How so?”

“Charlotte’s conscience will get the better of her. She won’t be able to stay away knowing innocent people might be in danger.”

“Who said anything about putting our friends in danger?” Josh asked.

I shrugged. “The whole school probably knows about the party. Seth will show up with his vamp friends…”

“And this is a good thing?”

“Charlotte is too much like me. After spending your entire existence fighting something, it’s not that easy to walk away.”

“You’re going to use everyone as bait.”

“And, if I know Angelica,” I went on, ignoring his last remark, “she will wait for the bad boys to turn up, too. Why waste time looking for something when you know where it will be in twelve hours?”

“Holy crap, Grace, you’re using everyone as bait!”

“No … I’m betting Charlotte thinks she’ll need to come. Everyone else will be perfectly safe, I hope.”

Josh looked at me with apprehension, and I could hear him yelling
no
in his head. He didn’t like the thought of putting our friends in danger, but I had no other ideas. Chasing Charlotte had proven futile. We needed her to come to us.

My phone rang, breaking the silence, and Josh raised an eyebrow.

“What?” I said.

“Just didn’t pick you as a
Green Day
kinda
girl.”

“Should I be listening to someone more wholesome, like
The Jonas Brothers?
”

“You are an angel.”

I laughed, gave him a gentle push and jumped up to grab my phone. It was Emma’s mum.

“Hi, Mrs Shrove, I’m so sorry…”

“Grace, dear, I wanted to see if you were ok?”

“Me, Mrs Shrove? I should be asking you that.”

We talked and shed some tears together. Josh held my hand, squeezing it gently now and then. Emma’s dad also hopped on the line to see if I was ok. What was it with them, checking up on me when their daughter was the one who died?

“She’ll be well looked after, Mrs Shrove, I know it,” I said. Josh smiled. “Ok, I’ll see you Monday.” I ended the call and watched the light on the screen blink off. Josh still held my hand.

“The funeral is Monday morning.”

“Your birthday,” he said.

“Don’t remind me, please.”

Josh raised my chin gently with his finger and lightly pressed his lips to mine. I knew what his intensions were; I always knew what his intentions were. He’d been justifying it in his head that he wanted to take my mind off things, and this time I let him.

I wrapped my arms around his neck and we dropped onto the bed. He kissed me deeply, fiercely, and I tasted blood in my mouth but I didn’t care. It was definitely taking my mind off things. My hands slid down his chest and I hooked my fingers into the belt loops of his jeans. He kissed my neck, making my spine tingle.

Josh rolled over and pulled me on top of him. I took a deep breath and rested my forehead on his, closing my eyes. His hands were warm against my skin as he lifted my T-shirt to caress my
back,
his fingertips gently traced the rose lines where my wings hid.

“Promise you’ll never leave me,” I whispered.

“Where would I go, Grace? You have my heart. And my soul if you want it.”

In that moment it didn’t matter that Josh was human and I was an angel. It didn’t matter that what we were doing was against the rules, and it didn’t matter that I would outlive him a thousand lifetimes over. All that mattered was us, and I melted into his kiss.

Sighing, I pulled away and sat up on the bed.

“Grace, what’s wrong?”

“It’s Archer. He’s outside the door.”

We both looked at the closed door of my room.

“Well, are you going to come in?” Josh asked, not trying to hide his annoyance. The door opened just enough for Archer to stick his head through, an amused smirk on his face. “What is so important you couldn’t wait, I don’t know, half an hour?”

“Josh.” I put my hand gently on his arm. “Angelica is downstairs.”

“Bit more important than feeling up my sister, don’t you think?” Archer laughed. I threw a pillow at him and he ducked. “See you two in a minute,” he called.

We made ourselves more presentable, and less ruffled looking, before leaving the loft. Angelica stood beside one of the couches, her nose in the air.

“Please, do have a seat,” I said, sarcastically.

“Think I’ll pass,” she replied, moving towards me.

“Snob.”

“Traitor.”

“Wouldn’t want any dirt on those pristine linen pants, would we?” I said.

“Is that a footprint on your butt, you know, from being kicked out of Heaven?”

“Ok, girls, I’m going to jump in before you start pulling hair and scratching each other’s eyes out,” Archer said, standing between us.

Gently, I grabbed his shoulders and moved him out of the way.

What do you want?
I stared at Angelica, channelling all my anger at her.

You know what I want.

She isn’t here.

I can see that, where is she?

“What are they doing?” Josh whispered to Archer. To him I was just standing there staring at Angelica.

“Angelica was just leaving,” I said, walking to the door and holding it open.

“Actually, I’ve come to make you a deal.”

“I don’t make deals with the devil, so to speak.”

“Grace, you are closer to the devil than I am,” she laughed, and the sound made me sick. Angelica was supposed to be the epitome of goodness, like I once was, but her halo was hurting my eyes and her purity made me want to vomit.

“No deals,” I said.

“Your status fully restored.
For Charlotte.”

“Seriously, you would do that for me? I’m so touched. Like I said, I don’t make deals with the devil.”

Josh fidgeted at the table while I stood with my hand on the door, gesturing for Angelica to leave. Archer walked over and I hid a smile, knowing what he was about to do.

“Would you like a footprint on your butt, too? You know, from being kicked out of the Tate family shed.” He mimed a kick at Angelica and she flinched, stepping into the doorway.

“Have it your way. We’ll be back, and next time no won’t be the right answer.”

“We’re shaking in our boots,” I said. “Don’t let the door bruise your butt on the way out.” I slammed it in her face.

“What’s going on?” Ryan asked from the top of the stairs, stretching and scratching his head.

“Not much,” I said, “just putting out the garbage.”

Archer, Josh and I burst into fits of laughter, and Ryan looked at us like we’d all lost our minds.

GRACE

M
y stomach felt heavy with worry for Charlotte, but if Angelica didn’t know where she was it meant she was probably still alive. I just hoped she knew what she was doing. We decided to keep a low profile after Angelica left, and get some things sorted for the party.

We built a small bonfire in the centre of the clearing. The boys were off in the forest doing, I don’t know, guy things, and I was staring at a pile of sticks, thinking.

The mid-morning sun was warm on my face; I closed my eyes relishing its touch. My wings felt very cramped and I decided to give them a stretch. No one was around to see so it couldn’t hurt. They pushed gently past the straps of my red tank top—I didn’t want to ruin yet another piece of clothing—until they were fully unfurled. I stretched them wide and gave them a gentle flutter.

I looked at my hands and a tiny thought entered my mind. I’d worn the ring on my right ring finger for as long as I could remember, it had always been there, from the moment I came into creation, and I’d never questioned its existence. My union with God was symbolised by that ring, and for that reason I’d never taken it off. Curious, I fiddled with it for a few seconds then began to slide it down my finger.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Seth said. He came around the bonfire to stand beside me.

“What are you doing here?” I sighed, pushing my ring back into place.

Seth regarded me for a moment. “Just trust me,” he finally said. “You don’t want to take your ring off.”

“Give me one good reason why I should trust you? You … you left.” He flinched, his expression hardening. “You watched Emma die.”