Rise From Darkness (3 page)

A shiver raced down his back as if his feathers locked in his flesh and bones, ruffled. What Sammy had said was true. He’d interfered with
Forras
and his friends’ fun. By saving Gaby he’d made things worse. She’d suffer years of torture until she went insane. It wouldn’t hurt to keep an eye on her for a while. This could be a second chance to save a life. It was his duty and he wouldn’t fail. Not this time.

Chapter Two

Gaby took a step back when her father shifted forward in the chair.

“Where were you?” His faint yet deep voice could barely be heard.

“I-I went for a walk on the beach.”

“Came home early to help with the unpacking.” His eyes scanned the room. “Anything left to do?”

Thank God. His words came clear with no slurring. He wasn’t drunk. This would be a civil conversation. But his tone indicated something was up. She ran her toe along the edge where the linoleum kitchen floor and carpet met.

Please don’t move us. Not now!

She glanced at the few remaining boxes nestled in the corner of the room which could easily be thrown in the back of his truck again. Not even the items already tucked neatly into their new residence would be a barrier to leaving in the morning. No, she wouldn’t let that happen. Not this time.

“Catch any bad guys today?” Gaby tried to approach the subject of his job with caution.

“Not today, but I’m close.”

“Dad, couldn’t you take a break. I know your job is important, but I want to stay in one place for awhile. No more name changes, or moves. Please.”

“Gaby, we’ve been over this a hundred times. I have to do this—”

“The government can find someone else.” Gaby’s heart began to beat faster.

“Not with my, um, unique skills.”

“What does that mean? How many different ways is there to kill a bad guy?”

His brow furrowed and he shifted forward in the chair. “I’m not getting into this again. I have a job, it pays the bills, I keep you safe. End of discussion.”

“Fine, I’m going to shower then start dinner. You going to be home tonight?” She paused, hoping he’d feel guilty for leaving her home alone, again.

“What do you think about attending the local public school this year?” Her father’s words hung in the air as if to tease her.

She hadn’t attended school since the age of ten. Cookies and milk, laughter, and plenty of hugs were all part of homeschooling with her mom. Reading became an adventure with play swords and princess tiaras. Nothing was ever boring or old. Her heart ached when she envisioned her mom stroking her hair while she sat at the kitchen table working math problems. But now the seat next to her remained empty each day.

“You mean it?” Gaby hesitantly stepped one foot onto the old shaggy carpet.

“Yeah, I mean it.”

Gaby took two long steps and lunged forward to hug him, with a warm sense of happiness. She’d never done that before, not with him. Those were mom hugs. She pulled back and looked into his face. Deep creases lined his eyes and his mouth stretched wide into a grin. He slugged her shoulder, like a father to a son.

She shuffled backward knocking into a side table. “Thanks, dad. I’ll do great.” She pivoted and ran upstairs, closed the bathroom door and jumped up and down. Was it a dream, or did her dad just give her permission to attend school? She cupped her hands to her mouth and screamed into them. She might see Sammy and her brother Alexander at school. They appeared her age.

A best friend and a boyfriend. She chuckled, realizing how she’d jumped forward just a little. But she couldn’t help it. For the first time in six years, she’d be able to hang out with kids her own age.

Finally, her father seemed human again. He’d actually smiled after she hugged him. How long had it been since he smiled? A year?

She cranked the old handle and pulled it out watching water sputter to life from the showerhead. Removing her shirt,
Gaby traced a small, puffy, zigzag pattern on her abdomen. Her gaze went to her ankle. Another reddish bruise.

Frowning she rubbed the mark. The sting subsided a little. Sh
e knew she hadn’t been tangled in mutant weeds. Something was out there. It was a creature she recognized from a dream that haunted her nightly, causing her to wake soaked in sweat. She shivered at the image and knew what kind of monster caused night terrors. And if the dark shadow in the ocean was anything like the one in her dreams … It was evil and deadly.

****

The minute darkness fell, Alexander stood at his window. An entire world waited beyond the tree line. Maybe Grace was right and he could fly, if he let go of his grief. But how could he let go of the images of the woman’s death that haunted him nightly?

He ran his hand through his hair and teetered on the edge of the window molding. Time to test if his powers really were returning. Heaven’s stamp of approval to protect Gaby.

He concentrated on opening his skin and bones to free his wings. His body tensed with anticipation. Cracks echoed in his ears as muscles and bones painfully pulled allowing his wings to extend. He stretched through the tightness and glided to the ground. Good thing angel wings didn’t atrophy.

He looked down the length of his right wing and watched it ripple. With a deep breath and a flutter of his wings, he pushed off from the ground, only to land a few feet ahead.

Cursing, he kicked a rock and sent it sailing down the sand dunes into the ocean. He closed his eyes and drank in the sea’s night air then launched himself toward the sky.

With determination he soared toward the clouds and broke through the white fluff in the sky. He tasted the damp air and the cool breeze swept through his hair. He fought the muscle spasms calling him back to the ground and continued. His heart lifted higher than he flew, finally, he was free. He’d earned his wings back.

Grace could’ve been right, but it could also be a sign from Heaven.

He reveled in the joy and freedom of flying. The wind caressed each feather as he circled around skimming treetops. It required all his focus to stay on target and not take to the heavens and perform his beloved loops.

It didn’t prove difficult to find Gaby’s home. There was only one house in the direction she’d walked earlier. He dove into the shadows of the trees.

The moon shone down on the grass around him. The sound of crickets chirping and frogs croaking filled him with peace. No lights illuminated her house, but he felt her stirring in bed. She cried out into the night, but he didn’t sense anyone in the house. His insides hummed when he connected with her. It was happening again. It had to be his powers. He felt her toss and turn in despair. Concentrating on her mind, he pulled the energy from deep inside. A vibration rolled through his body and exited his hands. She settled into a deep sleep. He’d calmed her dreams. If his powers were truly returning then the ability to heal someone wouldn’t be far behind.

A dull ache welled up within as he jumped down from the tree and paced back and forth outside the home.

Everything went silent.

The hair on the back of his neck stood up. His stomach lurched. Pungent smell of rotting fruit assaulted his nostrils.

There was only one demon with a smell that rank.

“Alexander.” A smooth voice from above enunciated each syllable of his name.
Forras
leapt down from a ten-foot high branch in an old oak tree, landing in front of him in a fighting stance. “Since when does Alexander Lorre fly?”

“Should I feel honored that you’ve taken an interest in me today,
Forras
?” Alexander gritted his teeth, suppressing his hatred. It wouldn’t do any good to give into the anger and lose focus.

“Boys, anyone notice something different about Alexander?”
Forras
glanced up toward the canopy above. “I think he might be ill. Is there anything I can do for you?”

Alexander met
Forras
’ gaze, hardening his features and refusing to react to
Forras
’ feigned concern. Despite the demon’s large athletic build, he moved with the grace of a gymnast.

“You appear a little flushed. I hope, no, wait a minute, I know what ails you. It’s obvious. You’re in love. You have fallen, oh pardon the pun, for that little blond human.” Eerie chuckles echoed through the woods around him.

“Are you finished?” Alexander made his way around him when three others jumped down from nearby trees. Now outnumbered four to one, Alexander stopped mid-step. Fists clenched at his side, a hot flash ran through his body. If he tried to take them all, there could be collateral damage. Maybe even Gaby.

“Alexander thinks he’s so much better than us. Who do you think you are, spoiling our fun this morning? Why don’t you just stay out of it and let us have her?”

Alexander’s blood boiled, “Stay away from her,
Forras
!”

“There, that’s better. I told my friends here that you are too pure and perfect to get involved with a human girl. I’m afraid the others don’t believe me though. They want to know what’s so special about her. What is it? Her bright blue eyes, her tight body—”

“There is nothing between us.” Alexander lunged forward.

Forras
jumped in front of him. “You think you have some sort of higher purpose here on Earth? Wrong. You’re only one step away from becoming a demon.”

“You’ll never turn me. I’m nothing like you.”

“It’s not you I’m thinking about turning.” He smiled revealing his crooked yellowed teeth. The demon kind, not the straight ones he displayed to humans. He pivoted on his heels and jumped to a branch six feet overhead. The mangrove and oak trees swayed, producing a creaking sound that radiated through the woods.

“I told you to stay away from Gaby.”

“Gaby? Hmm, I like that name. It sounds… spunky.”
Forras
stared down at him with a wicked grin. “It was fun playing with her, but she isn’t the one I’m referring to.” He paused, jumping from the tree landing on all fours then standing erect before him. “Have you seen your little Sammy lately?”

Rage surfaced with an explosive desire to attack. “Touch her and I’ll—”

“It’s her choice, not yours. But I’m not the one that’s going to win her over. Boon is with her right now, on the beach outside your home, whispering sweet nothings to your little adopted sister,”
Forras
drawled.

Alexander spread his wings but hesitated. He glanced back at Gaby’s house.

Forras
stepped back and leaned against a tree. “Torn are we?”

It would only take a moment to reach the beach and return but that would still give
Forras
time to do some real damage.

“I’ll make a deal with you.”
Forras
gave a derisive smile.

“No deals.” Alexander snapped back.

“Not so fast.”
Forras
looked at the other demons “Gaby’s off limits for tonight. We don’t want to miss Boon and Sammy getting it on at the beach.”
Forras
turned, removing his letter jacket. His shirt shredded into long strips of dark blue cloth when massive grey muscles exploded. Red eyes shone for a moment before
Forras
turned mid-transformation, saluted Alexander, and bolted into the woods. The others followed.

Alexander took flight with such speed leaves shaved off the large oak tree and floated toward the ground. Racing near the tree line to avoid detection, he punched at the air, swearing under his breath. He grabbed a branch and tore the tree from the ground, roots and all. Dirt and dust erupted behind him and the tree crashed to the ground.

A cyclone of sand rose when Alexander landed on the beach. Boon and Sammy tumbled around on a blanket, arms wrapped around each other kissing, Boon’s small pasty white frame on top, and his glasses resting on the edge of the blanket.

Alexander’s jaw twitched. His hands wrapped around Boon’s throat, throttling him before they even knew of his presence.

“Alex, don’t.” Sammy’s wings exploded in a spark of rose light and she took flight, landing beside them. “Alexander, I promise. Nothing happened. We were just talking.”