Intuition: The Premonition Series (2 page)

“Good luck with that. I couldn’t convince him to let me out past the courtyard,” I reply, giving her a pessimistic smile. Reed has been extremely sweet, but unbending when it comes to what he considers dangerous and risky.

“Well, this conversation will have ‘awkward’ written all over it then, because I plan on getting my way,” she says with heat in her voice.

But as it turns out, Reed is very accommodating when it comes to Buns’s requests. He just retrieves his shoes and coat when he hears we plan to go running and follows us out of the house without a word. I am surprised until I realize that he must really be worried about me.

Running out to Lake Arden, I feel like I can breathe for the first time in days. It’s cold because it’s the beginning of winter but that doesn’t bother me like it would’ve before I started evolving. I am starting to acquire the armor-like angel skin that protects me from things like cold and extreme heat. The transformation has been seamless, happening a little bit each day. Reed said it would take several more months to complete the transformation.

It’s strange, this new skin; it is smoother than human skin and lacks normal imperfections. It is also a shade paler than my human skin was, but it has a luminosity to it that is very hard to discern, even with highly sensitive eyesight like mine. I marvel at it, because it’s tougher, more resilient, than the skin I had before.

After we run around the lake, Buns pauses on the trail that leads back to Reed’s house. “Sweetie, I’m going to head back and see Zee. I’ve missed him,” she says, smiling, as she looks from me to Reed. “I want to start planning for New Year’s, too. You should stay… get some more exercise.”

“Okay,” I reply, watching Reed. She nods her head, and then she is gone in a fraction of a second, leaving behind only her light footprints in the snow.

“Do you want to walk this time?” Reed asks, falling in step beside me on the path.

“Sure,” I reply, trying to concentrate on the scenery around me, so that I won’t stare at his profile. The beautiful angles of his face make me want to reach my hand out and touch him.

Reed puts his gloved hand in mine, tucking my arm securely in his. We walk for a while, not talking. The butterflies that pull me toward him are ever-present, but it’s more reassuring than sensual at the moment. I turn my face toward the lake, feeling the breeze coming off of it. Smoky breath rises from us, mixing together above our heads like lovers entwined.

Finally, I break the silence. “I’m sorry, Reed,” I say in a strained tone that disturbs the quiet hush of the snow-blanketed trees.

Reed looks surprised when he turns toward me, his green eyes searching my face. “For what?” he asks.

“For not being able to deal with this better,” I say with regret. He squeezes my arm tighter as we walk closer together.

“Evie, you have nothing to be sorry for,” he says quietly. “I’m the one who should apologize. I’ve caged you up to protect you, only to discover it’s killing you,” he says, sounding contrite.

“No, it’s not that really…it is just that there is not a lot to do but sit and think about Alfred…or my uncle.” I say in a hush voice, thinking of my Uncle Jim and the fact that I will never see him again. Alfred had made sure of that. He had made sure that my uncle suffered before he died.

We walk a few steps more before I can say, “It just seemed easier to sleep and not think about anything.” I pretend as if the nightmares that haunt my sleep don’t exist. “You must’ve been worried to call Buns.”

Reed frowns. “I don’t have very much experience with human emotions. This is all new to me. I’m trying to understand your emotions and mine, too. I’ve felt a different range of emotions since meeting you,” he smiles down at me as we continue walking arm-in-arm.

“A different range?” I ask, raising my eyebrow.

Reed studies our clasped hands. “Let me think…” he sighs. “Well, elation is an emotion that I have not experienced for sometime… not since I’ve been here and I don’t remember it being so—intense,” he says, smiling and shaking his head.

“What made you elated?” I ask him, breathless as his beautiful smile melts my heart.

“When you told me that you would never love anything more than you love me,” he says in a soft tone. A blush of happiness warms my cheeks and I listen intently as he continues. “Desire is also stronger, more—potent.”

I nod knowingly, because I share the same unquenchable desire for him.

Reed’s eyes darken as he continues, “Well, Power angels are often jealous… but I have never felt that emotion as strongly as when I had to watch you with Russell—thinking that I would have to wait for the next eighty years, until he dies, to call you mine,” he says as his jaw clenches. “That was more than jealousy…that was sorrow.”

It is my turn to squeeze his arm as we round the far side of the lake. “And then, there is an emotion that I don’t ever want to experience again. That one is called agony,” he says, scowling a little when he names it. “That’s what I felt when I thought you were dying.”

I find it hard to breathe all of a sudden and have to take several deep breaths to try to slow down the beating of my heart. I had hurt him deeply when I had tried to give up my soul to save Russell. It has left a mark on him that hasn’t quite healed yet. I believe he understands why I did it, that I couldn’t just allow my soul mate to be torn apart by fallen angels, but I also know just how separate the head and the heart can be. He notices and stops to sweep me up in a hug that lifts me off my feet.

“And then, there is love,” he says in a voice soft with affection, “an emotion I have never really believed existed. But it does exist and it has a name… and her name is Evie.” He hugs me tighter. “And I can’t live without her, now that I have found her. So tell me what to do to make you come back to me and I will do it.”

I wrap my arms securely around Reed’s neck, snuggling into him, as I try to formulate the words that I need to say so he will know what he means to me. “I have thought a lot about you and the way that you can hear my heart. You said it sings to you, like the call of the Sirens to a sailor at sea. I think it sings to you because you were listening with your lonely heart and it calls to you because it is meant for you. I’m still here…I would’ve given up without you. You’re why I survived. I just miss my uncle,” I say, swallowing hard to get past the lump in my throat.

“I will help and Buns is back, too. She will know what to do. I was so wrong about the Reapers, Buns and Brownie. They’ve been the best for you,” he says, placing me back on the ground.

“No, you’re the best for me,” I say, taking his hand and walking back toward his house. And I’m going to try to be the best for you, from now on, I promise myself, realizing the pain he has been going through by watching me in my sorrow.

When we arrive back at Reed’s house, Buns is already in the game room researching sites on the Internet. “Oh, sweetie! There are several parties going on in Chicago tomorrow! There is one at Navy Pier! They’re having 9 different DJ’s and a fireworks display at midnight. Evie, did I ever tell you about the fireworks the Song Dynasty set off in the 9th century? I was really young then and I was just beginning to understand why I wasn’t blending in very well.” She smiles at me and I can’t tell if she’s teasing, or if she is serious.

I look over at Reed and see him frowning. “Buns, can you find something else…something a little more feasible…tactically?” he asks.

When Buns turns to look at Reed skeptically, Zephyr, who has been sitting close to her, decides to contribute to the discussion. “Buns, honey, that is a bad call. Do you realize how many Fallen will be at an event like that? And Reed is right; it is entrapping terrain, which appeals to me if we did not have Evie. Maybe you and I can go next year and see how many Fallen we can end before the ball drops,” he says with a smug smile that has Buns smiling at him.

“We’re getting out of Crestwood, that’s nonnegotiable,” Buns states flatly.

“Okay, but maybe we could avoid huge parties—something with less of a crowd?” Zephyr offers and I catch Reed smiling a little as he watches Zephyr work on Buns and her sense of celebration. “You know, for Evie’s sake, not because you are not the best event planner we know.” He is really good at strategy. I will have to listen more intently to his dissertations on the matter.

“For Evie’s sake,” she agrees stiffly, turning back to the computer screen. She pulls up website after website in rapid-fire succession. “Okay, how about something a little more recreational?” she offers, and I see Zephyr’s and Reed’s faces light up with interest.

“Recreational?” Zephyr asks, squeezing closer to Buns to peer at the screen. Reed drops his hand casually on my shoulder, caressing it.

“Snowboarding?” she says, flashing us an impish grin. “There are a bunch of small hills with ski lifts in this general area that do midnight runs on New Year’s Eve. I’m sure there is something going on at one of them where we could either ski or board until sometime around midnight, and then head in to the chalet for a midnight toast,” she says, smiling as she watches Zephyr’s face light up.

“That is my girl!” Zephyr says possessively, scooping Buns up off of her seat and twirling her around so fast they become just an impression for a moment until he sets her back on her feet.

“It’s off the chain, right, sweetie?” Buns asks, turning to me, “What do you think?”

“Sounds amazing,” I reply.

“You are truly a force of nature, Buns.” Reed agrees, leaning forward and kissing Buns on the forehead, which makes her smile deepen. “Let’s decide on the resort we are going to go to so that Zephyr and I can get some satellite shots of it, for strategy. Then, we will plan our assault on the slopes.”

I try to keep my face as neutral as possible and not let them see that there is a war going on inside of me. One side is rejoicing at the prospect of getting out of the house and living again; the other side of me is scared to death of what might happen once I leave the house. My heart must have given me away because Reed pulls me into his arms. Hugging me, he says, “It will be okay. Nothing will touch you.” He presses his cheek to mine and the heat we generate is intoxicating.

“I’m looking forward to boarding. I can’t wait to see how angels can slay a mountain,” I whisper in his ear, letting my cheek brush over his in a caress.

“I was created to slay,” Reed replies with a smile that almost stops my heart.

“I found it!” Buns’s tone is smug as she swivels in her chair to face us. “It’s a five star resort a few hours north of here. It says they’re booked for the holiday, but we know what that means,” Buns laughs, swiveling back.

I glance at Reed’s face, then Zephyr’s; they both do seem to know what she means by that. “I’m sorry, Buns, does that mean we can’t go?” I ask in confusion.

“No, sweetie, of course not. That just means they only have the really killa suites left for the VIPs.”

“Oh—are we VIPs?” I ask, trying not to sound ignorant. This makes Zephyr laugh like I have made a joke. His eyes sparkle at me like he is waiting for me to say something else amusing.

Buns smirks, too, and replies, “You know it. Reed, get her a black card.”

“Already done. She just hasn’t been anywhere to use it,” Reed replies.

“What are you talking about?” I ask in suspicion. I think I might know what it is they are saying, because I’ve seen the black credit card Buns uses to burn through cash like she printed the benjamins herself.

“I have a card for you. I don’t plan on us separating anytime soon, but you can carry it and use it however you would like,” Reed says, and frowns as he watches my mouth drop open. “What did I say?”

“I can’t take your money,” I reply, watching his face get darker.

“Why not?” Reed asks in confusion.

“Because it’s not right,” I reply.

“Why is it wrong?” he asks.

“Because it’s yours,” I reply evasively. Does he really not get that taking his money is completely grody?

“But, when I give it to you, then it is yours,” he says, smiling at me because he thinks what he is saying is logical.

“Buns, you get why I can’t take his money, right?” I ask, looking for help.

“No…it’s just money,” she shrugs, and I’m beginning to believe they are printing it somewhere.

“I have my own money, Reed, but thanks,” I say in embarrassment.

“Evie, you have a few thousand dollars—that is not money, that is…” he trails off when he sees me duck my head to hide my deepening blush of mortification. My house is for sale, but no one seems interested in it, since the previous owner was viciously murdered in it. Most of our things have been removed and put into storage, for which I will need to reimburse Reed when the house is sold. Although, I don’t think he’s going to let me. The funeral arrangements for my uncle had probably cost a lot, too, but no one will tell me who paid for it, or how much it cost. “I’m sorry, did I say something wrong?” Reed asks, trying to make eye contact with me.

“No…I just have to start looking into Internet gambling and see if I can beat the odds,” I reply, since there is not a lot I can do right now to earn money. Having a homicidal angel, like Alfred, bent on beating the soul out of me is seriously hurting my chances of getting and maintaining gainful employment.

“Evie, we can consider all of this a loan, if it makes you feel better, and you can pay me back later,” he says, holding up my chin and looking into my eyes.