Rise From Darkness (9 page)

How did Grace do it? She always knew the truth. He could never get anything past her.

“I guess you could say he adopted me. He followed me home the day I met Gaby the first time. After that I’ve seen him sporadically. Yesterday he wouldn’t leave my side. It might sound strange but I think it was his idea to guard Gaby not mine.” Alexander chuckled.

“I thought so.” Grace placed a hand on his shoulder. “He chose you for a reason. You did the right thing.”

“Well I knew a dog would deter
Forras
from entering her house but this one I have a feeling could do much more.” Alexander took her hand and moved eye to eye with her. “You were right. I had well … um … some
sorta
… reaction to Gaby.” He cast his gaze to the floor. “I thought
Patronus
could keep her safe from me too.”

Grace leaned down and lifted his chin with her finger, meeting his gaze. “You did the right thing, son. In time you will learn more control. Like everything else, time will heal this too.”

The mantel clock chimed five and he jumped to his feet.

“I have to go. It’s getting late. Thanks for watching him.”

Alexander drove to the high school. His insides rolled at the thought of seeing Gaby again. He pulled into the parking lot and parked, then closed his eyes and imagined her in his arms. He longed to hold her, touch her, kiss her. How could he? She didn’t even know who or what he was. Even if he could learn to control his emotions and desire would he be able to lie to her? Or worse, tell her the truth? How would she react to him being a fallen angel? Disgust. That’s how she’d react.

He opened the car door. Taking a deep breath, he headed for the football field to find the girls.

The cheerleaders were done with practice. Some were with Sammy chatting while others were over with football players. He choked down a rising burn in his throat as he approached the field. Football players. How could Sammy stand to be around all this? Still, he admired what she did.

“Girls, get over here. We need to discuss the schedule.” Sammy’s voice rang out as he approached.

Sammy did her job well. Not only as a cheerleader but as a protector.

“Sammy, where’s Gaby?” Alexander scanned the girls and a tingle rose up on the back of his neck.

“She was just here. I—”

“Her father called. She had a family emergency or
somthin
’.” Avery twirled her hair around her fingers and popped her gum.

Father? Emergency? No something else. Alex closed his eyes and settled himself. Focusing on Gaby. Woods. She was in the woods and heading straight for
Forras
. His eyes shot open and saw Sammy looking at him with panic.

“Go Alexander. Go now.” Sammy shoved him as if to jolt him back to reality.

Alexander’s heart pounded at the thought of what he might find.

He took off before he could even formulate a plan. All he knew was Gaby was in trouble.

Chapter Seven

“Hello, Gaby.”
Forras
swaggered out from behind a tree with a crooked smile.

She stumbled backward, breath caught in her throat.

Forras
reached out and steadied her. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. We’re having another bonfire tonight. You should come.”

“Not tonight.” Gaby stepped away from him attempting to pass without incident. The hair on her arms stood at attention.

“I won’t take no for an answer.” His voice came smooth and forceful.

Nervous energy pulsed through her body. She felt compelled to accept. She shook her head trying to rid herself of the sensation.

“At least let me walk you home. You know some people are frightened by these woods. They say they’re possessed with all sorts of demonic creatures.”

“I don’t need an escort. I’m not scared of some fictitious creatures that go bump in the night. It’d take a lot more than that to frighten me.” She shoved her hands in her short pockets hiding how they trembled.

Forras
blocked her path home.

“Move out of my way. I have to—”

“Let me guess. Take your dog for a walk? Make-out with Alexander?”

“Get out of my way. I don’t have time for this.”

“Or save your father?” A smug look crossed his face.

“How did you … You couldn’t have—”

“I do apologize, Gaby, but you left me no choice.”
Forras
grasped her arm and pulled her closer to him. “I’m quite gifted you know.”

“Shut up.” Every muscle in her body tensed at the thought of him touching her. The sound of his voice made her want to claw his eyes out.

She slapped him across the face and tried to free her other arm. Her actions only made him clasp down harder. Painful darkness plunged into her arm, raced through her body as it grew exponentially, shadowing every ounce of her being. She clutched her chest to take a breath. Deep sadness consumed her as she choked back tears.

“Gifted at technology. Where did your filthy mind go?” He laughed. A distinctive laugh. One she’d heard before.

“Stop, p-please stop.” Her legs collapsed.

The sound of his voice circled around and around until it penetrated her soul. “My father. I have to get to my—”

Forras
chuckled with a demented tone. It echoed around her.

“I. Know. That. Laugh” She gasped.

“Yes. You know who I am. Think, Gaby.” He snarled. A guttural deep voice came. “You have my mark.”
Forras
pulled her shirt up revealing the zigzag pattern on her abdomen. His callused hand brushed against her exposed skin.

She quivered. Her flesh started to crawl and burn. She kicked and punched trying to free her arm. “Let me go.”

“I could make you forget about all your grief. Join me and you’ll never feel the pain of loss again. You could be powerful, strong, and full. You’ll never be lonely again.”

Darkness twisted and turned in the pit of her stomach. Her insides collided as if her body would implode at any moment. Pain, grief, and sorrow all consumed her at once. “M-make it s-stop. Please.”

“Join me and I’ll make it go away forever.”

“Alex.” Gaby whispered.

“What? You still think he’s going to save you?”

His hot breath beat against her face. She gagged at the putrid smell.

“Where’s your little savior now?”

“I’m right here,
Forras
.” Alexander’s voice broke through the pain. For a moment Gaby could breathe again. She looked up but the sun blinded her. How did the sun shine through the trees so brightly?

“Come to watch?”
Forras
forced his lips against hers. No. It wouldn’t be like this. She clamped her lips shut as hard as she could. Screaming from deep down she scratched and clawed at his face.

A blue light exploded all around and
Forras
’ lips were gone. She wretched and spit at the ground. Panting she looked up through watering eyes to see a figure. Blinking, she strained to find Alexander but the light was too intense.

“I told you never to touch her.” Alexander’s voice echoed in a whirl of fury.

“Alex?” Gaby clutched the side of the tree and pulled herself up. Her legs wobbled under her. With her hands, she shielded her eyes from the light. She tried to move forward, to find Alexander, but collapsed under the weight of the darkness covering her soul.

Sounds erupted from the woods. Dust and dirt filled the air. Trees cracked all around her. It sounded like a freight train barreling at her.

“W-what’s going on? P-please tell me.” Her skin continued to bubble with pain burning from the inside out. “
Ahhh
, make it stop. P-please.” There was silence. Not a sound. She looked up. Exquisite fluffy wings ruffled down around her. The ones from her painting except with a navy hue. They were attached to Alexander. . She now saw the face absent from her picture.

The wings surrounded her and the fire dwindled. Each soft feather caressed her bare skin. She closed her eyes as the browns and grays merged with the sun-fire yellow muting the darkness.

Light overpowered the dark and warm tingling meandered through her body. It was bliss. Happiness. Welcoming the salty taste of tears, she surrendered to it and wept from pure peace.

His wings let go as he took flight. She rested in his arms, head against his bare shoulder as he held her against him. Wind twirled her hair about and she let go long enough to push it from her eyes, and she looked down. Everything spun around in a blur. A wave of panic ensued at the sight of how high off the ground they flew.

****

Alexander held tight as he took off. Her screams were lost as they reached the clouds. Soon, they turned to whimpers and pleas as he bolted across the sky, taking her far away from
Forras
. The clouds surrounded them. Her body quivered though he wasn’t sure if it was from terror or the cold. He didn’t know where else to go so he landed on the beach in front of his home.

Grace might be the only person that could protect them now. How could he have exposed himself and then brought her home to his family? Stupid! He cursed himself as he gently put her down.

The look of terror in her eyes said it all. She sank into the sand, tears streaming down her face. He took one last look at her before he climbed the steps to his home, knowing she’d never want to see him again.

“Grace, I need help.” He called out in a choked voice. He stood on the front porch staring back at Gaby sobbing in the sand.

Grace came out. “I’ll take care of her. Go inside.”

He bolted upstairs to his room to hide himself away in shame, leaving Grace to calm Gaby.

What had he done? He yanked a dresser drawer open, grabbed a pale green t-shirt out, and shoved it over his head. The one he’d been wearing was left in long strips of blue material in the woods. If he would have stopped to think before he exploded into full angelic battle, maybe he could have rescued Gaby without announcing to all the hunters in the world where they were.

All the angelic and demonic evidence left spread across that clearing, it was all so sloppy. Maybe he could return and do some damage control. No, it would be too late. A hunter had probably already been dispatched to investigate. If he returned, it would only help them narrow it down to his family. Not that in Kemp, Florida it would take too long.

He paced his room until he picked up the old worn Edgar Allen Poe book from his nightstand and skimmed the illustrated pictures and read a few passages. The rhythm of the words always soothed him but not this time. All he saw in the illustrations were winged monsters. He tossed the book on the nightstand and went to the window.

Two taps at his bedroom door drew his attention but he refused to turn from the tranquil scene outside his bedroom. He tried to lull the memory of the day from his mind with the sounds of seagulls and ocean waves. The look of disgust when Gaby saw his true form, her body convulsing from fear in his arms, it was too much.

“Alexander.” Grace’s soft voice announced her presence in the room and the door clicked shut.

How could he look at her or anyone else? Each time he tried to save someone he ruined their lives.

Bile rose in his throat as he remembered
Forras
touching Gaby. “I’ll get him for this.” The evil edge to his voice no longer shocked him. It sounded powerful.

“Please, don’t say that.” Grace’s voice broke causing Alexander to turn around.

She gasped, her hands covering her mouth.

“What’s wrong?” Alexander stroked her arm. She grasped him by the shoulders and turned him to the mirror. “Look son. Look what you’re becoming. You have to let go of the hatred before—”

Deep blood-red eyes glowed back at him. Demon eyes. He stumbled back and fell onto the bed. They were his. He stared at the mirror. Disgusted, he shut his eyes and concentrated on calming himself.

When he opened them, Grace sat next to him, her frail frame slumped over on the bed, the blood drained from her cheeks. He softened at the sight. Glancing back at the mirror, the red in his eyes dissipated. How could he have lost control like that? As his hatred receded his heart broke.

“Oh God, what have I done? I’m sorry.” He placed his arm around her and tried to comfort her.

Grace tapped his hand reassuringly. “Sammy went to the clearing and retrieved any evidence. No sign of hunters at the moment. We may have been lucky.”

That was something. Still, so much damage. Even if the hunters didn’t find them, he’d scared Gaby to death. “Was it that bad? Did you take Gaby home?”

“No. Sammy took her home.”

“Oh.” He paused for a moment hoping she would elaborate on Gaby’s condition. When she didn’t, his heart grew heavy. The mere act of breathing became impossible at the thought of never being near Gaby again.

Did
Forras
scare her into leaving Florida? It would be for the best. Or was she repulsed by him? Did she see the blood red eyes of a demon? She must’ve thought there was no difference between him and
Forras
. She had every right to hate him. He hated himself.

“Alex. I’m going to share a story with you. Could you listen with an open mind?

Her eyes penetrated him with sadness. There was no choice but to listen. After all she had done for him, how could he refuse? Earthbound hunters could be at their door at any moment after the explosion between them, not to mention the debris and scents left behind. And he had no one else to blame but himself.

“You know you are not the only angel to ever fall, right? Each angel decides their own fate.”

“I guessed there were others. Of course, Sammy and maybe one or two more. I never heard of any returning to Heaven.”

“No one knows for sure. I only know of one angel and his fate. You see.” She paused to take a breath. Her eyes moistened. “There was a boy around your age. At least that was the form he took here on earth. They say you take on a form based on your soul. He must have been a lot like you. Loving, compassionate, and loyalty were some of his traits.”

Silent tears rolled down her cheeks. “Once he was earthbound he tried to find forgiveness for his sins, but it was difficult. He was so unhappy, but he didn’t let that stop him. One day he met someone. A girl. She was lovely and full of faith and goodwill. All she wanted to do was save him, and he wanted to save her.”