Beyond (38 page)

Hop
p ing from tree to tree, Michael questioned the point of having wings .
Knowing Claudia wouldn ’
t move a muscle if he was around, he had to find a way to fool her, to mak e her think he ’d left .
H
e followed her down the path, making sure she was safe . Wh en he saw her plac e the butterfly necklace around her neck, he was stunned . Impossible! But then again, what did he know ?
A fter meeting Claudia, many things were possible.

Michael recalled the day so clearly as if it
had happened yesterday .
Claudia bravely yanked it off and placed it on Aliah ’
s heart. He was so proud of her, his beloved , whom he ’d f allen in love with before they even met. She was so innocent and naïve. It was that part of her that had captured his heart.
Her entire essence was a breath of fresh air. He was utterly spellbound by her in ways he never knew possible. She ’d turned his world upside down, but in turn she ’d opened his eyes to a new one , and she became everything he needed, everything he hoped for.

His thoughts brought
him back as he adoringly gaze d upon Claudia sitting there, examining the apple as if it was a novice object.
When tears roll ed down her che e k s , Michael was startled by th e si ght and wonder ed what she was thinking that caus ed them . His heart sank , watching her in pain as tears flow ed even more. How desperately he wanted to console her, if only he knew what the cause was , but to his surprise, Claudia began eating the apple.

He r
ecall ed Claudia ’
s words .
Somehow the apple was suppose to help her, but how? After she had enough, Claudia toss ed the apple so far that even she looked stunned, then she leisurely trudge d toward the waterfall. Knowing she was safe and that there was no evidence of the apple, he left to take care of his duty and his plan.

The venators congregated in the garden, waiting anxiously to hear their destination s .
They were dressed in silver protec tive gear, almost like knights. The color silver represented purity.
O
n front of their uniform s , to the left where the heart was located, was a red cross in front of angel ’
s wings . The color red symbolized pride and strength.
The uniform showed unity and the t rue mark of who they were —venators—protector s of all that was good.

Many gathered in small groups, mingling, telling their stor ies of how they became venator s . Each had a unique story to tell, some more tragic than others. For some, after the discovery they were different, there was no doubt they wanted to be a venator . But others had no choice , for they had already been abandoned since birth. Many left their famil ies knowing their purpose. To make the transition easier on their hearts, mind s, and soul s , the memories were taken, as were the families ’ memories of them.

The
A lpha team surrounded Vivian and Caleb, asking them questions about Crossroads , and what their li ves w ere like there. Da vin had a difficult time connecting to their conversation s , as he could do nothing but think of the girl standing across from him , h ow her shimmering light brown hair tousle d against the breeze, her eyes that sparkle d when she smile d, and the smile that radiate d his heart. He tried to avoid staring into Avalon ’
s eye s , but it was difficult when she did the same in return.

How silly he
’d felt when he found out the reasons he felt the way he did. Now knowing what having a crush felt like, he didn ’
t know what to do. It was even worse since having a relationship was forbidden …
not that he wanted one. A part of him was elated that he felt the emotion so many desire, and if it was returned , how wonderful that would be !
But seeing wh at Michael and Claudia had been through, he didn ’
t know if he wanted the same.

“
So what do you think, Davin?
”

No answer.

“
Davin, ”
Vivian called again.

Davin
br oke away.
“
Um…what did you say?
”

Caleb
pat ted Davin on his back.
“
Good to know you haven ’
t change d .
”

“
What?
”

“
Is he always like this?
”
Vivian teased.

“
Yes, I ’
ve always been sexy and smart, ”
Davin sa id , trying to keep a straight face, surprising Viv i an as she trie d to hold a straight face too. The venators laughed out loud, enjoying the humor between them. The laughter faded when Katherine and Austin were seen.

Vivi
a n and Caleb pulled Davin aside.

“
Where is Claudia?
”
Vivian whispered.

“
I don ’
t know .”

“
What do you mean , you don ’
t know?
”
V
ivian asked.

“
Just what I said, I don ’
t know .”

Caleb was getting frustrated by the answer.
“
Is Michael with her?
”

“
I don ’
t know .”

Caleb and Vivian
thr e w their hands up in the air in accord.
“
Then what do you know?
”
Vivi a n redirect ed her question.

“
Look…all I know is that it looks like Claudia is starting to get her memories back. She freaked out and ran away. Michael went after her , and that is all I know. I haven ’
t heard from either of them. Michael is still on his blood seeker mission, but he always comes back for her.
”

“
Why didn ’
t you ju st say that in the first place ?”
Vivian huffed.

Davin
r a ise d his brows and g ave Vivian the “
I ’
m in control ”
look.

Vivian
roll ed her eyes at Davin.
“
I guess our plan is still in progress?
”

“
What plan?
”
Davin inquire d .

“
The plan. Don ’
t you remember the plan we talked about right before we went to Claudia ’
s house ?”

“
The plan?
”

“
Have you f orgotten ?
The Claudia and Michael plan. That plan.
”

“
Oh…that plan. I know that plan.
”

“
You ’
re not going to be in that plan if you continue to drive me nuts.
”

“
I ’
ve missed you way too mu ch. I ’
ve just begun.
”
Davin g ave a mischievous smile.

“
Ahhh!
”
Vivian d id n ’
t know whether to laugh or get mad , so she frown ed and then smile d .

Meanwhile
, Caleb gap ed back and forth and sh ook his head.
“
Just like the good old days.
”

One by one, each group went their separate ways. The Alpha team was the last one left.

“
You need to find Claudia and bring her back.
”
Though Katherine didn ’
t sound worried, her eyes betrayed her.
“
The others are not aware of Claudia ’
s position , and I would like to keep it that way. If she is starting to remember her past, she may become rebellious , and who knows what she may do ?
I ’
m going to put my trust in her and hope that she will do the right thing, but if our enemy finds her first, there is no way of knowing what she will do, especially if they ’
ve manipulated her thoughts. From what I have been told, Benjamin is in good hands. I will need to bring Michael back.

“
The C
urators cannot locate Callum. He may be in danger as well . Track him down too . I don ’
t know what is happening in Paradi s us, but it ’
s something massive. Please be careful.
”

Katherine
g ave a proud smile , and the A lpha team head ed for Parad is us.

Chapter
2
5

Remembering her way back to Callum,
Claudia slip ped behind the waterfall and step ped into the wondrous place once more.
Unable to u nglue her eyes from the vibrant surroundings of the wild flowers and the butterflies fluttering around her, she didn ’
t notice someone standing to her right .

When her
gaze le d to him, she jerked back from seeing a stranger with a long black cape.
Knowing it was Callum , she quickly stab i l iz ed her heart, but when she looked into his eyes, they were darker than before, making her deathly frightened. S
omething was different . She wasn ’
t sure, but she could feel evil growing inside him.

“
Callum?
”
Claudia called softl y.