Rise From Darkness (11 page)

Confused, Alexander’s gaze flew between the two of them.

“You idiot. I can’t date a person who can fly if I’m scared of heights now can I?”

“I’m not a person.” Alex wanted to hold on to the hope but knew it was useless.

“You are a person. You may not have been born on Earth, but you feel, and think and love just like any person I know.”

“You deserve better. A human and an angel won’t work.” Guardian angels were forbidden from falling in love with their humans. The accusation against Sammy in Heaven had almost caused them to fall. In a way it had.

“Who says?”

“It has always been forbidden for a guardian angel to become involved with his human.”

“Newsflash, you aren’t guarding me. I wouldn’t want you to be either.”

“You wouldn’t?”

“No, I want you to be my boyfriend. I don’t need protection, I just need you.”

Alexander noticed Sammy slinking off with a look of accomplishment on her face. “By the way he isn’t even a guardian angel. He’s a healer.”

“There is just one thing.” Gaby stared him down. Alexander held his breath. This was what he was waiting for. She couldn’t possibly want him now.

“You have to tell me everything. No more secrets. I want to be with you, but not if it’s based on lies.”

His teeth clenched so tight his jaw popped. No way she could handle the entire ugly truth. “I don’t know that you would want to hear all of it. There are things that no human should know.”

“Trust me, I can take it.”

He would have to tell her about the demons and how he fell from Heaven. All of it, even the fact he killed her mother. A wave of nervous energy swept through his body.

After he was done she would never want to be with him. Maybe this would be best for them both. He knew he wouldn’t be strong enough to stay away from her on his own. This way she would hate him and keep her distance. Sorrow threatened to consume his human form but he’d learned how to suppress the response enough to function.

“You sure you want to know?”

“Yes.”

They sat down on the beach listening to the waves crash and the birds sing as he told her everything about demons and fallen angels.

“So you fell from Heaven because you were protecting Sammy? That doesn’t seem fair.” Gaby looked shocked and disgusted by the news.

“You have to understand. Sammy was accused of becoming involved with a human she guarded. This is strictly forbidden. When I found out
Appius
filed formal charges I became angry. Angels do not have anger. Anger is a human trait.
Appius
informed the council presiding over Sammy’s case. I became outraged and threatened him.”

“But you were trying to protect Sammy.”

“I was found guilty of acting in a manner unbecoming an angel and sentenced to live earthbound.
Appius
informed me that Sammy was found innocent of all charges but due to my behavior we were both sentenced. You see she fell because of me.” He could feel the moisture well up in his eyes. It was the first time he ever told the story out loud.

“I’m sorry.” Gaby embraced him, but he pushed her away.

“There’s more.” He took a deep breath and continued. “There are things in this world that a human shouldn’t experience. Demons live among humans. They prey on the weak and isolated. You were targeted by a local demon.”

“The ocean. I wasn’t trapped in weeds was I?”

“No.” His shoulder’s tensed at the memory of
Forras
torturing her.

“You saved me from a demon?”

“Yes.” Alexander waited for a hysterical outburst but it didn’t come.

“I don’t understand. You should be freaking out. I just told you there are evil creatures hunting you, and you seem fine with it.”

“I don’t know about fine, but I think I already knew.”

“How? How could you possibly know that demons are hunting you?” Gaby’s bravery amazed him. Never had he witnessed a human so calm especially in the face of evil.

Gaby paused for a moment. “You’re going to think I’m crazy.”

“Me? I just told you about fallen angels and demons. I don’t think I can think of anything more insane.”

“You know how I love art?”

He’d seen her draw and knew it was connection with her mother. Her mother, he still had to tell her about his part in her death. The ocean breeze blew as if in warning to tread lightly. “Yes.”

“You also know that I have some crazy dreams.”

“Yes, but the demons cause those. That’s why I tried to watch over you at night.”

“That was you? I mean the nights I slept without having nightmares. You were there?”

“Yes.” He clasped his hands together, cracking several knuckles.

“Anyway, the dreams I have leave me tired but inspired to draw.”

“Why is that crazy?”

“Because, I draw the future.”

They both sat there staring at each other for a moment.

“Why do you think that?” Alexander’s mind hummed with questions.

“Twice I have drawn things before they’ve happened.”

Could she honestly have some sort of ability to see the future? If so, was it a gift from Heaven or a curse from hell? Maybe when
Forras
marked her he somehow gave her the ability. An electric current of panic shot through him at the thought of her connection with him. “When?”

“It’s personal.”

“More personal than me talking to you about being a fallen angel? I thought we were going to be honest with each other.” He had to know. If she had some sort of connection with
Forras
it could be too late to save her.
Oh, dear God, no.

She took a deep breath. “I came down stairs the other night and found my dad drunk, hunched over his chair, with a bloody shirt.”

“I’m sorry.” Alexander’s heart tightened at the thought. “But what—”

“It was the exact scene I created in a picture eight months earlier.”

Eight months ago, it couldn’t be
Forras
. His blood started to pump again and oxygen entered his lungs with ease. “You said there were two.” Alexander saw her eyes start to fill with tears. How could she face demons and not shed a tear yet when speaking about this weep silently. Was it too painful? He clasped her hands in his for encouragement.

“It was a picture of my mother lying next to a car.” She shuddered “I drew my mother’s death a year before it happened.”

Alexander took her in his arms and held her for a moment. His heart broke as her body trembled in his embrace.
I caused your mother’s death.
He repeated it over and over in his head, but couldn’t say it aloud. He gulped back tears. How could he know the truth and not confess it? But if he did, she’d never forgive him.

Holding her head against his shoulder, he sniffed her apple scented hair, kissed the top of her head and whispered, “I’m sorry.”

Patronus
jumped up and ran over, barking at him.

“
Patronus
, stop. It’s just Alex.” Gaby tried to calm him.

“No, this is good.” Alexander closed his eyes and inhaled deeply.

“What?”

“
Patronus
is protecting you. I started to get, well—”

“Oh.” Gaby looked down as her face flushed.

“Well I guess we worked out our issue of being alone. Anytime I get too worked up,
Patronus
will set me straight.”

“Is that why you got him for me?”

“He’s your protector. If a demon is anywhere near you he’ll bark.”

“
Forras
. He went nuts when
Forras
came near me. Is he the only demon?”

“No. Half the football players are demons. That’s why I didn’t want you anywhere near them. And that’s why I didn’t want you walking through the woods alone. You have to be careful. Take
Patronus
with you everywhere you go.”

“What about Sammy and cheerleading? It doesn’t seem safe for either of us to be at cheerleading practice.”

“You’ll be safe. They won’t try anything in public and they wouldn’t challenge Sammy. They are too cowardly. She joined cheerleading to try to protect people.”

Alexander stroked her cheek and kissed her forehead. “You’re amazing. I can’t believe you are taking this so well.”

“I know it sounds strange but I’m just happy to have a reason to get up. I feel like I have a purpose or something. I think I can handle just about anything. Anything but you lying to me. Please, now that I know everything you can be honest with me. I don’t care how bad or evil it is, just tell me. I’m sick of secrets in my life.”

“I promise.” Alexander felt a knot rise in his throat. He had to tell her the truth somehow, eventually.

****

Gaby’s head swarmed with thoughts of angels and Heaven, and Alexander. How he appeared different in his angel form when he saved her opposed to the afternoon he grabbed her and took off from the woods. There were so many new questions haunting her. Why did he take off that day? How did his wings feel? Is there a chance that he’ll have to leave her and return to Heaven? There were too many questions to sleep.

Gaby sat on the floor petting
Patronus’s
belly and waiting for her father to return. She flipped through her pictures. She couldn’t believe she shared her secret about her father with Alexander. And the anxiety that had nearly killed her six months ago had settled. No haunting sadness, dark all-consuming grief, or sting of fear took over. She was in control and with no medicine. For the first time in over a year life gave her a purpose and hope.

She continued to skim the pictures but they all looked the same, showing abstract views of things yet to come. There was something she was missing though. She could feel it. The dark swirls with strange animal-like features were obviously demons. Large puffy white wings were from angels, but all the pictures looked the same. No faces, no marks to identify them.

She held one in her hand for awhile, touching the canvas and following the brush strokes with her fingers. It was a scene of dark meeting light in a sea of color spinning like a tornado in an alleyway. There was something significant about this picture, but what?

Around two in the morning,
Patronus
lifted his head, a minute later she heard her father’s car coming down the driveway. The door clicked and by the sound of shuffling feet, she knew he was drunk again. She crawled back into bed and for the first time she welcomed the dreams in hopes they might reveal something, anything that could help save her father, protect them from
Forras
, or learn if she’d lose Alexander back to Heaven.

Chapter Nine

Gaby tiptoed down the stairs, avoiding the third creaking step so as not to wake her father. Placing the leash around
Patronus
’ neck, she opened the front door a few inches, so that it wouldn’t squeak, and squeezed through.

There was a cool breeze coming in from the ocean making it almost a pleasant temperature. The mornings usually brought a reprieve from the harsh summer heat.

Patronus
stopped, looked around and then darted away, yanking Gaby along with him. “
Patronus
, wait. Slow down.”

He led her to a clearing where she discovered Sammy sitting on a fallen tree trunk. Arms wrapped around some guy and locked in a passionate kiss. A kiss she longed to have with Alex. Gaby tried to pull
Patronus
away, but he pranced up and rubbed against Sammy’s leg.

The guy jumped up with a look of fear in his eyes. It was the smaller boy from the group of guys at the beach, Boon. Gaby turned to see what was behind her, but nothing was there.

“Hi. I-I’m sorry I didn’t mean to interrupt.
Patronus
here has a mind of his own.” Gaby patted him on the head.

“It’s okay. We were just talking.” Sammy fidgeted with the hem on her hot pink mini-skirt.

“I think you were doing more than talking.” Gaby joked.

“You can’t say anything. I mean, to Alex.” Sammy grasped her arm eyes wide, “please Gaby.”

“Why don’t you want Alex to know? Is he really that over-protective?”

“It’s not that.” Boon stepped closer. “I’m not good enough for Sammy.”

“Don’t say that.” Sammy let her arm go and leaned into Boon. “He just doesn’t understand you’re nothing like them.”

“Like who?”

Sammy and Boon looked at her as if she were missing something.

Boon … Alex … friends … football. “Oh!”

“I think she gets it Sammy.” Boon crouched down and pet
Patronus
.

“But I don’t understand. I thought
Patronus
protected me from demons. If you’re a—”

“He protects you from harm. Boon is not a threat to you. He’s no threat to anyone.” Sammy crouched down next to Boon and looked at him with so much compassion and love. Gaby longed to have Alexander look at her like that. To be a real couple.

“Gaby, please just promise me you won’t tell.”

She had just made Alexander promise to tell her everything. How could she lie to him now?

“Please Gaby.” Sammy pleaded.

“If asked I won’t lie. But I won’t volunteer anything either. That’s the best I can do.” Having friends definitely complicated life.

“I guess that’s better than nothing. I’m sorry we put you in this situation.”

“I better go.” Boon kissed her on the cheek. They stood for a moment starring into each other’s eyes until he took off into the woods.

“I still don’t understand, Sammy. Why don’t you want Alex to know about Boon? Does he not want you to date anyone, or is there something personal with Boon? I mean if he’s different from the others—”

“It’s personal. Please, I don’t want to have to choose between them. How could anyone choose between two people they love?” Sammy looked down and away. Her normal peppy nature tinted with sorrow.

Gaby didn’t want to be the cause of her having to choose. Sammy the first true friend she’d ever had, she didn’t want to hurt her.

“I won’t tell him.” Gaby prayed Alexander wouldn’t ask her. But then, why would he?

Sammy jumped up and threw her arms around Gaby. “Come on, we better get to cheerleading practice. I don’t want my brother asking why it took me so long to get there.”

“We can use
Patronus
as an excuse. Let’s go drop him off at my house and we can walk to cheerleading practice from there.” Gaby pulled on
Patronus
’ leash.

“Sounds good. I can’t believe summer’s almost over. A couple more weeks and we’ll be going to school again.” Sammy jumped up and down with her renewed cheerfulness.

Sammy chatted all the way to practice but Gaby couldn’t focus. What would happen if Alexander found redemption? If a demon could fall in love with an angel than anything was possible.

****

Sammy cheered her on as she climbed to the top of a pyramid at the start of practice. Everyone knew by now Gaby preferred the bottom of the pyramid but she was determined to conquer her fear.

“You’re looking good up there, babe.”
Forras
crashed practice with a few others dressed in football pads and jerseys.

His voice made her skin crawl. Looking at him sickened her.

“My name’s not babe. I wouldn’t be so cocky. The way you guys scrimmaged, the fans will be here to watch us cheer instead of watching you guys get clobbered.” Gaby’s nervous energy fostered hostility. How could she act like this guy was normal when she knew otherwise?

Forcing a smile, she did a double back flip off the top and landed lightly on her feet.

“I see our friendly wannabe saint has filled you in.” His buddies nodded in agreement.

How could he know that? Gaby tried to change her posture to reflect less hostility. If he figured out she knew about him would it change anything?

“Ignore them, let’s get back to practice.” Sammy glared at
Forras
and ushered the girls into a line to practice a cheer.

“Where’s your pet?”
Forras
yelled back as he walked onto the football field.

Gaby didn’t know if he meant
Patronus
or Alexander, but she refused to rise to the bait and give him any information.

Moments later, she caught a glimpse of Alexander’s car pulling into the parking lot. The muscles in her face quickly tightened, she tried to suppress her smile but couldn’t.

Forras
turned to see what she stared at. “Ah, there’s your pet now.”

Gremory
smacked
Forras
on his shoulder pads and they left to pummel each other on the field. Relieved by their departure Gaby released her clinched fists and rubbed the marks from where her nails had dug into her palms.

Alexander approached with a large bouquet of flowers in tow. “How ‘bout a real date tonight?” He gave the flowers to Gaby.

She smoothed back the hair from her face and tried not to fidget too much. Glancing around she noticed everyone’s eyes were on them. The entire football team and cheerleaders stood as witness. Her heart raced from embarrassment and excitement. A real date?

“What kind of restaurant will allow
Patronus
in?”

“I thought it could be just the two of us tonight.”

Gaby leaned in to whisper. “Is that safe? I mean, you said we shouldn’t be alone without
Patronus
.”

“We won’t be. We’ll be in a restaurant with lots of people. If you can promise to behave, I’ll promise to stay in control. Deal?”

“Sounds great to me.” Wiping her palm on her navy blue shorts, she took his hand and walked to the car.

Her heart fluttered with disbelief. Did he really just ask her out on a date? Her eyes started to water as he squeezed her hand.

Still, something deep inside wouldn’t allow her to be truly happy. A low whisper of danger, loss, and fate haunted her. Even now walking with a Fallen Angel she still felt vulnerable to darkness and shadows.

****

Entering the house through the kitchen, she spotted
Patronus
jumping three feet in the air with excitement at the sight of her. It was nice to have a companion in the house to greet her. She took him for a walk, and when she returned, Sammy waited at her door. Her small frame danced around on the front step as she approached.

“Can I ask for a favor?” Sammy didn’t even take time to say hello.

“I guess.” Something about the way Sammy asked made her pause. This whole friendship thing was new it was probably just her anxiety over trying not to screw things up.

“I don’t think you’ll like it.” Sammy warned her.

Life was so much less complicated before she met Sammy and her brother but she still wouldn’t give it up for anything. “What is it?”

“I’m going to spend some time with Boon while you’re on your date with Alex.”

“Okay.” Gaby waited for the difficult part.

“I need you to warn me when your date is over. Alex’s been watching me like crazy. Excluding this morning, this is the first chance we’ve had to see each other in days. Please Gaby were just going for a swim and we’ll hang out on the beach while we eat a picnic dinner.”

“I have to be home by eight in case my dad comes home tonight.” Gaby warned her.

“I’ll take it. Thanks so much.”

“Remember, if you get caught, I had nothing to do with it.” Gaby swallowed hard. “What if
Forras
tries to drown or mark you as he did me?”

“He won’t. He can’t. Thanks again,” Sammy said as she rushed off.

Once she was alone, Gaby raced to her room to get dressed for her date with Alexander. She stood looking at her closet with little to choose from wishing her mother could be there to help her.

After twelve wardrobe changes and an hour of make-up application, she looked in the full-length mirror. The dark blue sundress with spaghetti straps clung to her body. Except for her broad shoulders, she felt almost sexy. Skimming her closet, she found a shrug to hide her less feminine feature then slipped on her one pair of heels and sat at the front window waiting for Alexander.

Her first official date, how she would’ve loved to share it with her mother. To have Alexander walk in and meet her parents like a normal family. Her mother would graciously welcome him into their home. While her father scowled or made those stereotypical comments a father makes about ‘having her home on time’ and ‘I know where you live.’

Startled by the sound of her cell phone ringing, she answered with the daydream still lingering around her.

“Hello.”

“Gaby. Gaby, can you hear me?”

“Dad?”

“Gaby, I can’t hear you. If you can hear me, I’ll be home late.”

“How late?” For once she was happy he was ditching her, it left more time with Alex.

“Don’t know. Make sure you lock up if I’m not home by bed time.”

“Yes, sir.” She stifled the excitement in her voice.

Click. The line went dead without so much as a goodbye.

Patronus
started to bark moments before Alexander’s car came down the drive.

Alexander exited his car dressed in black pants, t-shirt and a pale green button-up over it. Thank god, she wasn’t overdressed.

He walked up to the front porch. The tight fitting shirt revealed broad shoulders and muscular arms.

Taking a deep breath, she tried to steady her hands as she opened the door.

Alex just stood there starring at her for a moment. “You look beautiful.” She fidgeted not knowing how to respond. Compliments were few in her house.

He offered his hand and escorted her to the car. Her chest rose and fell quickly as he shut the passenger side door and walked around the car. Trying to calm herself, she took a couple deep breaths before she hyperventilated.