Falling (The Soul Collectors Series Book 1) (18 page)

“Lover’s tiff?”

He rolled his eyes. “No. She’s not anyone to me. She was just making sure I knew she needed her car back before she went home later.”

“Hmmm.”

“You weren’t going home were you?” It was more of a statement than a question.

“Why does it matter?”

“You were going to go the valley. It’s obviously not safe for you. What is wrong with you? Do you have a death wish?” His voice increased in volume with each word.

“What do you care? If I go and something happens to me, then you have your first mission success - and not just that, but you will have defeated the undefeated Bayla.”

“Are you serious? Do you think I care about some dumb mission? Whether Gray lives or dies? I couldn’t care less. You are incredibly dense, Angel.” He was seething.

“Can we not do this out in the open?” I stomped off towards Alissa’s car. I refused to out myself to the town because this demon couldn’t control his temper. I sat down in the passenger seat and waited for him. I watched as he seemed to argue with himself.

“Let’s go to the valley.” Declan climbed in on the driver’s side, but wouldn’t look at me.

I could feel my face heating up. I didn’t want to feel any emotions because of Declan, and I definitely did not want to show them in front of him. “Why are you helping me, Declan? I don’t understand. I lost Haddy and Father Paul. You should be elated.” I swallowed, feeling the tightness in my throat.

“Bayla...”  There was so much unspoken yearning and pleading in just my name. “Please, trust me. I know I am not on your side but that doesn’t mean I want you to be erased, or harmed. I didn’t hurt Hadraniel. He’s the first guy that I could talk to honestly without fear that what I said would get back to Mephistopheles. Seriously, where is this weakness coming from? You are the Soul Collector for all of Heaven. Your name is revered as someone to be afraid of in Hell. What’s so different this mission?”

Tears sat unshed on my lashes. I couldn’t answer, and all I could do was look at him. I couldn’t respond. He stared for a minute before pressing his lips together. His eyes lit up with understanding. He was what was different. I had been fighting that truth since the first time I saw him. His gray eyes, moody face, dark hair, his smirk, his laugh, even his stupid man bun. He made everything different. I had some weird connection to him. He made me feel both off and whole, at the same time.

“After this trip to the valley, I’m leaving. I’ll come on the camping trip so it doesn’t look suspicious, but I cannot be the reason you fail. If I win, I want to win because I was better than you at a hundred percent. He paused, and seemed to collect himself before he continued. “Do you know what you’re even looking for up here?”

I just shook my head, still afraid that if I spoke, I would lose control of my emotions. The drive to the parking area before climbing up the hill into the valley wasn’t that far, and I was out the car and heading up before he had completely stopped. I couldn’t be in the car with him another second. I felt like I was suffocating. I didn’t need to be reprimanded by a demon. I was angry with myself and with him. I was angry at the Elders for changing the timeline. I was angry at Hadraniel. A Blue Angel, even one in training, should be aware of his surroundings. There was no reason he should have been taken by surprise. I got up to the top in record time, barely out of breath. I stopped and waited for Declan who was huffing and puffing by the time he joined me.

“We need to get into the valley and check out the areas Hadraniel marked to stow food and drinks. Those markings will help identify the path he took. I know where he was when the Blues came, and I know where we started, but we need to find the in between places.”

“Lead the way.” His breath was slowly returning to normal. At a different time or place, I might have found it comical, seeing him struggle this way.

Once in the meadow, I turned in the direction I had seen Hadraniel heading as I was walking towards the sinkhole. We had walked about three hundred feet when Declan pointed out the first “X” on a tree. It had a hole at the bottom that could be used to hold water. I soon realized I should have brought the stash of supplies I bought today. It would have made for one less trip out here. . It was another hundred feet when we found another “x”, this one more hastily drawn than the first.

“He seemed to draw this one with less precision.” My face contorted some in confusion. Did he think he was being followed?

“Didn’t you say he thought you were hollering for him? Time wise, could this have been when he first heard “you”?”

“It’s possible, but I had walked a far distance away and was heading to the same spot he was when he was hit. Let’s continue on this path a bit to see if we can find another X.”

I headed towards the edge of the tree line and was just about to step out when I was slammed against a tree with a hand covering my mouth. I opened my eyes to see Declan pressing his body against mine, his finger to his lips. I nodded. I didn’t know what was happening, but I was enjoying his body against me. I listened, trying to hear something, anything that may have triggered this sudden hiding we were doing. He peeked around the tree and was quickly scooting us to my right, keeping us as close to the tree as possible. He pointed to his eyes, then to something behind us. I made a move to turn to see what he was looking at, but he shook his head quickly. Another few seconds passed, and we scooted to the right some more. Whatever we were hiding from must have been moving more into the trees. We stayed motionless for another minute or so before he pushed away from me. He indicated to continue to be quiet. He reached for my hand and led me out of the tree line. Once out of site of the tree, he took off running. He was easy to keep up with, but he wasn’t slowing down. We ran into the creek, and then behind the waterfall. Inside the falls was a cavern. It was large and well hidden. I had to lean against the wall for support while I gasped for air. I was drenched.

“What in the Grace was that? Did you see someone?”

“Meph was out there. I don’t know how he didn’t detect me. He was searching the ground for something.” He genuinely didn’t look happy.

“Mephistopheles is here? Already? If he hurt Hadraniel, I will erase him. I have the swords to do it.”

“Bayla. Don’t tell me where the swords are! Do you understand me?”

“Why would I ever tell you that?”

He chuckled. “Good girl. I’m not saying Meph had anything to do with Hadraniel being shot, but it would make sense. Had was strong. He knew he could be a big help to you. I swear to you that I don’t know Meph’s plan, but it’s not that hard to guess he would want the two of us against you. I’m going to go check and see if he’s gone. Stay here. If I’m not back in twenty minutes or so, head out towards the car.”

“Following the commands of a demon,” I mumbled under my breath. I noticed him looking at me, slightly amused with his eyebrow arched awaiting my answer. “Yes, fine. Go.”

If Meph had done this to Had, then I would need to make sure I had a small sword on me at all times from now on and have the two others hidden around the valley. Also, knowing this cavern was back here might come in handy if I needed to hide the others safely. I was beginning to feel a spark of hope. My mission would be completed if I could keep Gray alive until after the quake and keep him away from Meph. With the help of Hannah, I had no doubt I could do this. Declan didn’t seem like he would fight me if it came to it. I could use that knowledge to my benefit. I sat down on the floor while waiting for Declan. I used the time to draw a map of the valley in the dirt. If we could get to the meadow I had found, it would provide us protection from the hill if it were to collapse, but we would be further away from this cavern. Plus, we would be closer to where I was hoping to push Meph into the sinkhole if need be. From the papers I had found in Had’s room, I knew this cliff and waterfall to be safe from the quake’s aftermath.

I was just finishing plotting the two X’s on the map, when the water parted. Declan was standing there drenched. I wiped the map clean and stood up. “Ready to go?”

He continued to stare at me.

“Declan?”

Before I could get another word out, he was there, inches in front of me. I was staring into his eyes. They looked stormy. “I heard you screaming, Angel”

“I wasn’t screaming. I was in here in the whole time. I swear.” I spread my arms to show him no harm had been done. “See?”

“I heard you though. It must have been what Hadraniel heard. I never, ever want to hear that sound again!” He pushed me against the wall and kissed me. It was hard and rough at first, but then turned deeper. It was like he was drowning, and I was his air. I was breathless when he finally stepped away.

“What the Graces was that for Declan?”

He didn’t answer. He reached for my hand and hastily made towards the hillside. We didn’t talk the whole way up. He kept searching the area for someone or something, but we never saw anything. We made it up the hill and back down to the car in record time. He opened my door, then made sure I was in with the door closed before he would even walk to his side. “I don’t want you at the cottage alone. I’m going to drop you off at Hannah’s.”

“You can’t. She’s spending time with her family this week.”

“Why?”

“Because...I told her. I needed her help.”

“YOU TOLD HER WHAT?”

“Everything. Well, almost everything. I didn’t tell her about you or where Haddy really was because I didn’t want to stress her out more. I needed her to know so if I needed help, I would have someone.”

“And you thought a teenage human girl was your best bet? You probably put her in danger. What the hell, Bayla? Did you even stop to think about the consequences for you when they find out you told her?” He smacked his hand against the steering wheel causing me to jump.

“I made a decision based on the facts that I had. I didn’t tell her every single detail. I know the consequences.” What I didn’t say was that I doubted I would live long enough to have to deal with the consequences.

“Well, I guess I’ll take you to the cottage, drop of Alissa’s car to her and then walk back to stay with you.”

“I can stay alone.”

“No you cannot. Look at what you’ve already gotten yourself into. I’m coming over. End of story.”

“Declan.”

“Don’t ‘Declan’ me. I’m not arguing this point. Hadraniel would agree with me, and you know it!”

“Cheap shot.” I shrunk into the seat and rode in silence for the remainder of the trip to the cottage. I got out, slammed the door, went inside and locked the door. I knew locking the door wouldn’t make any difference, but it made me feel better. Upstairs, I quickly hid all of Had’s files in my room. I didn’t need Declan snooping while I slept. Once I was sure everything was hidden well, I changed into my pajamas and went into the living room to wait for Declan. The next thing I remembered was the feeling of being carried, and someone whispering, “Sleep, Angel. You’re safe.”

“I always seem to have a vague feeling that he is a Satan among musicians, a fallen angel in the darkness who is perpetually seeking to fight his way back to happiness.” ~Havelock Ellis

The next morning I felt lighter, freer. I had slept well. My mind was made up and my path was clear. I dressed quickly so I could get down before Declan woke up. I wasn’t sure what I planned on doing today. I needed to give exploring the valley a break just in case Meph was lurking around. I pulled on yoga pants that Hannah had left, a sweater and put my hair up into my favorite messy bun. Downstairs was very quiet, so I assumed Declan was still sleeping. I crept into the kitchen and started a pot of coffee. I put two bagels into the toaster and went to find where he had passed out so that I could get him up. I searched throughout the whole first floor and didn’t find him. He must have slept in Had’s room. Upstairs, I quietly opened the door to peek in on him, only to find the room empty. Where in the world could he be? I was making my way downstairs when I heard someone knock on the front door.

“Declan, what are you doing out there?”

His face contorted in confusion. “You told me not to come back.”

“I did not. After you used Had as a cheap shot, I didn’t say anything. Besides you carried me up to my room last night.”

“Someone carried you to your room?” Panic seemed to be rising in him.

“You did. You said ‘Sleep, Angel. You’re Safe.’” I frowned. Surely I knew his voice by now, even in my sleep.

He grabbed my hand and pulled me to the front porch. “Don’t move.”

He went inside like he was some cop inspecting a break in. I had just completed a full sweep while searching for him. There was no one in the house. I didn’t feel unsafe. He was overreacting about the whole situation. I stood outside for a few minutes before he returned.

“I think it’s safe.”

“I could have told you that. I just searched the entire house looking for you. I knew no one was in the house. So if it wasn’t you, who could it have been? I felt at ease. I had the best sleep I had had in ages.” I led him into the kitchen to finish preparing our breakfast. “Have a seat, I was just making bagels and coffee.”