Rise From Darkness (4 page)

“Talking is how they win you over. Don’t you know that? Haven’t you listened to anything I’ve said?” He bellowed.

Sammy jumped at the sound of his voice echoing across the ocean. She moved slowly toward him with her wings still outstretched, obviously ready to fight in Boon’s defense if needed.

“It’s my fault. I asked her to meet me here.” Boon snapped.

His brow arched at the entreaty in Boon’s voice. “Shut up. No one asked you.” Alexander released Boon with a shove.

Boon rubbed his throat and put distance between them then reached down to retrieve his glasses.

Alexander turned on Sammy. “Why would you fight your own brother to save this demon?” A demon that hangs with
Forras
, the one who killed that woman in the car… He swallowed, his words caught in an iron trap of fury and remorse.

“He didn’t do anything wrong. Never once did he try to seduce me or attempt to convince me to be one of them. He isn’t happy with the others. He’s different. If you give him a chance you could see—”

“Never, and you will never talk to him again. He’s a demon. They’re all the same. I swore to protect you and that’s what I’m going to do.” The muscles in his face twitched with rage as he turned to face Boon. “You will stay away from my sister or you will die.”

“You must not. It would destroy you. Murder leads down a dark path.” Boon spoke in a calmed hush voice, brown eyes wide.

“Boon’s right. We were put on this Earth to protect humans, not to pass judgment.” Sammy’s pained expression tugged at Alexander’s heart.

“I know what I said, but he-is-not-innocent. And I will risk everything to protect you.”

Chapter Three

Gaby awoke refreshed and ready for a new day. She couldn’t remember the last time that happened. Since the death of her mother, each morning she had to concentrate on getting out of bed, but today was different.

Inspiration to draw hit her the minute she opened her eyes. She pulled her art supplies from an old trunk her mother had given her. The colored charcoal pencils seemed to have a mind of their own as the picture took form and life.

Exhilaration filled her.

Her hands moved against the paper, smearing and shading the colors. Army green edges mixed with charcoal grey and a smidgen of tree bark brown encircled stark white and canary yellow. A distorted form appeared at first with no real shape. Gradually, the picture revealed itself to her, a cocoon of some sort. An exquisite golden light with puffy wings wrapped around it.

A tingle danced on her skin, at the sight of wings wrapping themselves around her. “That’s crazy.”

Although through the years, Gaby had talked to herself, recently it had become chronic. She guessed that’s what happened when she had only herself for company.

She lifted the picture and studied it, wishing she could share it with someone. But since her mother’s death, there was no one. It would be pointless to show it to her father since he didn’t approve of wasting time ‘doodling.’ Sighing, s
he tucked the picture into her portfolio.

She pulled on her pink bikini bottoms and slipped the tied string of her top over her head and secured the back hook. Scanning her body in the full-length mirror, hanging on the back of the door, the lightning bolt pattern on her abdomen still shone bright. She shuddered at the sight and traced the lines with her fingers.

Part of her didn’t want to go near the beach, but Sammy would be there. A chance to have a real friend. That was reason enough. Besides, she’d probably made too much out of it. Let her imagination run wild again.

If Alexander showed she could find out more information about what happened. She could feel the corner of her mouth rise at the thought of him. Shaking her head, she stopped herself. The only reason she wanted to see him was for more information about what happened. He’d been aloof. But did she even thank him for saving her life? If she didn’t he could have thought she was just as rude and ungrateful.

Throwing on a beach cover-up, she headed out of her room with her art supplies and picture in tow.

A stifling musty odor greeted her when she opened the door and descended down the creaky stairs. The house appeared put together like a jigsaw puzzle. Her room had been an attic at one time, the hall a late addition.

No matter, it was a place to sleep. On the other side of the shack, her father slept, she hoped. All was quiet now, which was perfect. She didn’t need him grilling her about the terrors that haunted her nightly. His questions only made things worse and she wasn’t about to go back on medicine. Although, the dreams didn’t haunt her last night and she’d gotten the best night’s sleep in a year.

Once outside, the coarse sand slid between her toes. Crap, her sandals weren’t providing much protection. Her ankles twisted and turned as she maneuvered over rocks and sticks on the ground. Each time her foot slid from the shoe it burned from the hot sand and gravel.

The art banged into the burned spot on her leg with each step. “Why did I wear these?” She’d only owned one pair of heels in her life, these little white sandals with a two-inch heel. She knew why she’d worn them even if she didn’t want to admit it to herself.

Exiting the woods, she found the beach deserted except for the waves crashing onto the shore. But the sun shone bright and cheerful with no thunderclouds around. Salty air brushed against her face.

Gaby spread her beach blanket smooth and sat, feeling self-conscious as she tried to position herself in an attractive way without looking like she was trying too hard. “This is silly. He won’t come today.”

A stick snapped from the woods behind, startling her. She jerked around and searched behind her, but saw no one. She shrugged it off as paranoia stemming from dangerous situations arising from her father’s ‘mysterious career’ and tried to rest back on her towel again. But it was no use.

Dang, she just wasn’t the type of girl to sunbathe on a beach. Nervous energy kept her from sitting still, let alone on a beach with nothing to do.

The sun beat down on her. The small mark on her leg throbbed from the heat. Knowing the cool water would soothe the sting she stood, brushing the sand from her legs.

“You’re not thinking about going in the ocean again, are you?”

It was his voice, Alexander. Her legs threatened to buckle under her.

“I thought you agreed not to swim alone.”

He stood a few feet away in blue trunks and a white t-shirt. Lean muscles bulged against cotton material. And the boyish dimples appeared with his smile.

“I was just stretching.” She extended both arms in a mock stretch and turned trying to appear calm. The last thing she needed was to chase him off with another face plant in the sand.

“Where’s Sammy?” she blurted out the first thing she could think of.

“I’m here.” Sammy made her way out of the woods and gave Gaby a huge hug.

Gaby wrapped her arms around Sammy’s tiny frame and patted her back twice. Hugs weren’t commonplace in her house, at least not since her mother died, especially not from strangers.

“Ouch, Alex, look at her leg.” Sammy’s dainty, perfectly manicured hand pointed at Gaby’s leg.

“Looks like you bumped into some coral.” Alexander reached out to touch the mark but pulled his hand back.

Her heart sped up at the thought of him touching her. “Coral? Really?”

“It happens a lot around here.” Sammy nodded. “It might sting in the salt water.”

Four large trucks raced through an open field and smashed onto the beach, drawing her attention. The tall trucks were jacked up so high she couldn’t make out who was driving.

Sand kicked up, spraying her face, body and hair. Dirt scratched her eyes and she spit it from her mouth when they sped by and halted a few hundred feet away. An intricate paint detail of a devil-like creature decorated the side of the truck. Large red colored lights lined a bar on the top. The artist in her admired the detail, yet the image made her stomach drop.

The door of the first truck opened and a large boy wearing a letter jacket jumped from the vehicle. A letter jacket? In this heat? Was he kidding?

Several more boys jumped down and started pulling large wood planks from the back of the trucks. They piled the wood in the pyramid of a bonfire. Why would anyone want a bonfire in this heat and humidity?

A large boy with a crew cut and tan skin approached them. “Hey, Alexander. How’s it going? Who’s the pretty lady?”

Alexander stared at him in stony silence.

“Well since our friend here won’t introduce us, allow me the pleasure. I am
Forras
. This is
Gremory
and
Donn
, Carson, and the small guy hovering by that truck is Boon.”

Gremory
,
Donn
, and Carson looked identical in build and stature, with variations of hair and eye color. But Boon looked more like the water boy than an athlete deserving of a letter jacket.

Forras
stepped forward to shake her hand. The mark on her abdomen stung when he touched her.

“Please accept my apology for frightening you. We don’t mean any harm. We just get a little overzealous at times.”
Forras
enunciate his words in a smooth tone.

Gaby tried to pull away but he tightened his grip and placed his other hand over hers, prolonging their handshake.

“Historically, this has always been our beach. Because no one comes here, we don’t have to concern ourselves with who we might run down.” His voice sounded methodical, like each word was carefully considered before speaking. “Let me make it up to you.”
Forras
moved closer and placed his hand on the small of her back.

A tremor shot through her for a second causing her to feel strange and more than a little ill. His scent reminded her of fresh cut oranges with a hint of soured dish towels.

“Excuse me,” she murmured moving away from him.

“Why don’t you attend our bonfire tomorrow night? We always have one the night of the full moon.”

Her tongue and mouth seemed to have a mind of their own as the word ‘yes’ formed on her lips. Alarm bells clanged in her head.

“This would give you the opportunity to meet everyone prior to the start of the school year.”
Forras
lowered his voice.

He poured on the charm, flashing a bright white grin at her. “Everyone who is anyone from high school will be here.”

Voices in her head warred with her urge to get away from him and take a shower. The popular people will be there. It’s your way in. You’ll make tons of friends before school starts. Placing a hand to her temple, she rubbed a throbbing pain and she tried to decipher the voices.

Returning his false smile with one of her own, she said, “I don’t think so.”

Forras
’ lip curled in disapproval.

She shivered and moved further away from him.

Forras
glanced back to the other boys. “That’s adorable. I think she’s got a curfew.”

“She said no,
Forras
.” Alexander clutched her arm and pushed her gently behind him. “I’ve warned you.”

“We were just leaving, right gentlemen?”

“Yeah, just leaving,” the rest echoed in a mocking tone.

The voices in her head settled and the throbbing subsided.

A massive heap of wood ten feet high remained behind as the
4X4
trucks sped off down the beach. Thunder boomed overhead. She’d been so engrossed in what was going on, she hadn’t noticed the storm building.

Gaby glanced at her new friends. She didn’t want to part with Alexander and Sammy so quickly. “Do you guys want to head to my house to wait out the storm? It isn’t too far from here.

“Sure,” Sammy said and grabbed her hand pulling her into the woods. Alexander had already gathered her stuff and carried it under his arm, trailing behind them.

Dense woods provided shelter from the rain as they followed the path leading toward her house.

“You live over by Old Highway Nine, right?” Sammy asked before pulling her down another trail. “Here, I know a short cut.”

It did seem shorter, until a freshly fallen tree blocked a narrow part in the path. Alexander quickly took the lead and offered his arm to help her over the large trunk.

Grinning, Gaby took a step back from a perplexed Alexander. She ran two steps and flipped over the log tucking her arms and legs into her body. It might have been a little showy, but she wanted to impress him after falling face first in the dirt the day before.

“Wow.” Sammy jumped up and down clapping.

“That was impressive.” Alexander raised his eyebrows in approval.

“I use to take gymnastics when I was younger.” Gaby attempted to act nonchalant but inside she was pleased at getting Alexander’s attention.

As they reached the edge of the woods, she scanned the dirt drive for her father’s car. She didn’t want to take a chance on him seeing she’d made friends and changing his mind about allowing her to attend school. At the empty drive, she exhaled. Good, he wasn’t home which meant he’d stay on schedule and not arrive for hours, and if he stopped off somewhere for some drinks, not at all.