Dimmest Of Night (Dimmest Of Night Series) (12 page)

Blane was by her bed in a second, “Are you alright Rose?”

“Blane honey. I’m so happy to see you. I’m fine dear. Just down with the flu.” She patted his hand smiling up at him. “I see you brought this beautiful young lady along with you again.” Smiling over at me now.

“Hi Rose.” Pulling the afghan up onto her lap.

“Rose I’m just going to step outside the door and flag down a nurse. I don’t want you using your energy for Carma. I’ll be near.” Blane said walking out, shutting the door softly.

“Oh that Blane.” Smiling.

Sitting down in the chair next to her, “Why don’t you use your healing abilities to make yourself feel better?”

“Well honey. You know how when your empath abilities are triggered, you can feel everyone’s emotions but your own?”

“Yeah?”

“Well, it’s kind of the same thing. I can help everyone else, but myself.”

Trying to wipe off the pissed off face I was wearing, “Are you serious? That’s a rip off!”

Laughing, she started coughing. Handing her a tissue she laid back looking exhausted.

“I’m sorry Rose.”

“Never be sorry for making someone laugh, for you are bringing joy into their life.”

Smiling, the old lady was kinda growing on me now.

“I see you finally realized your feelings for Blane.”

Blushing now, “Since you mentioned that, how did you know? I know you’re a healer, but there is something nagging at me like there is more to it.”

“Observant girl.” Nodding and smiling. “I don’t know why I didn’t see that coming.” Whispering now, “While you have secrets, so do I.” Leaning back again with a satisfied look on her face.

Okay the lady was creeping me out again, “I don’t know what your talking about.” My heart dropping. Surly she didn’t know about my other gift. I will kill Blane myself if he blabbed. Shifting in my chair uncomfortably, I glanced toward the door.

“It’s okay sweetie. I know what you’re thinking and no Blane did not tell me that you have the ability to discern lies.”

My mouth agape, “Then how?” Pushing my lose strands of hair back nervously.

“I guess it’s only fair. I’ll keep your secret if you keep mine, for I have never told anyone myself either. Not even Blane.”

Leaning in closer to the lady, I needed some sort of explanation.

“I am also a medium child. That’s how I knew you were, and still are in love with Blane.”

“Really?” Sitting there stunned. I knew it! “Why do you get all the cool gifts?” Blurting out before I could shut my big mouth.

Laughing again, “You are such a delight child.”

“What kind of medium are you?”

“Some people would call me a modern day fortune teller. I hate the stigma that comes with that. I just prefer, that I can see the future.”

Shifting thoughtfully.

“What is your question for me dear? I warn you, I may not answer it. I cannot do anything that might change how the future unfolds. This is why I have kept my secret for so many years.”

“Is there any chance, or by some miracle that I could be with Blane? I mean as more than him just protecting me, for more than a couple months.” Stammering it out, not sure how I wanted to word it.

“Oh dear, I can answer that without my abilities.” Patting my hand softly, “There is always a chance, never lose hope.”

Sighing, it was supposed to comfort me, although it did little.

“You were hoping for more.”

Shaking my head yes. I couldn’t hide the disappointment.

“I will tell you, that not everything is what it seems.”

Winking at me and I wondered if she knew the previous conversation Blane and I had. “Why did you say that?”

“Take your own advice, that’s all I’m saying.”

“I think you and Blane are too much alike. Both with the evasive answers.” Poking a little fun at her.

Blane walked back in with a grim look on his face. “Did you have a good visit with Carma?”

“Oh yes dear. She is delightful. You will need to bring her again.” Smiling over at me.

“I will Rose. I will be back in a couple of days to make sure you’re still doing alright.”

Giving him a knowing look, she just smiled and shook her head in agreement. Walking around her bed, he grabbed my hand and led me out of the room.

Waiting until the door closed behind us, “What did the nurse say?”

“She has pneumonia.”

Elderly getting pneumonia is never a good thing. My stomach pitched in dread. “Is she going to be alright?”

“I don’t know. She’s a fighter. I want to see her again before I go underground.”

Another sense of dread in my stomach, “Why? because you think you may not come back?”

Without saying a word, he turned and I followed him down the hall with a lump in my throat. Sometimes silence speaks louder than words.

Walking into his house, it was hard getting excited about much of anything. Two days he will go into hell. In which case, I may never see him again. Creepy old lady isn’t as creepy as I thought, turning out to be a psychic. I guess I was thankful that I hadn’t been attacked within the last couple of hours.

Stepping into his bedroom, I just wanted to be alone to think about things. Knowing, that wasn’t about to happen. “You mind if I go out onto the balcony to be alone for a bit?”

“Sure.” Looking at me concerned. “I have a few things to do on my computer anyhow. Just don’t get to close to the edge. Don’t want a demon pulling you over.” He said drawing me in and kissing the top of my head.

Walking up to the doors, I pulled the curtains back and unlocked several locks before stepping out. The air was chilly, taking a deep breath it still felt good. Closing my eyes and turning my head up I let the sun beat down on me. Sliding down to the wood floor I leaned up against the side of the house, just out of eye sight. I loved that man sitting just a few feet away. It no longer mattered to me what he is, rather who he is.

I knew what he was doing, he was preparing just in case he didn’t come back. My heart hitching, my stomach turning. I didn’t even want to think about the possibility. Unfortunately, the possibility is right in my face unable to think about anything else. My mind always coming back to that prospect. The giant elephant in the room when I am near him now. The weight of the guilt crushing me. Racking my brain, trying to figure out a way to convince him not to go. To take help. To stay. Anything other than going by himself to face this powerful demon.

Glancing around the corner, he sat concentrating on whatever task at hand. Massive lean muscle stacked on lean muscle, hunched over his desk. I wanted to run over to him and bury my head in his shoulder. To say, okay always protect me. Turning back around and staring out into the trees. Such thoughts were absurd. He’s a powerful angel, a warrior. He will protect me, and if he survives he will also protect the next person. I’m just an assignment. Rationalizing the current situation to the best of my ability. He told me I wasn’t just any assignment, that I was different. Was I really? Or did he say that to any of the women that hit his fancy? It sure didn’t seem so with the way Rylan and Aiden were looking at us.

Sighing, and gently banging my head on the siding of the house. Looking around the corner again at Blane, hoping just the sight of him would change my mind. I knew I had to leave. Run as far and as fast as I could get. He was a true warrior, he would go to any lengths to save my life, even if it meant his. I wouldn’t want anyone to do that, but most especially him. Just….not him. This time I allowed a tear to slide down my cheek. Brushing it away before the next one made a path down my face again. Is this my karma? Did I do something so bad that I am to pay up now? Finally, I fall in love with this incredible man and I can’t have him. A man that wipes out my empath abilities and the pain that goes with them. A man that for the first time makes me feel my own feelings. I don’t want to leave that. I don’t want to lose that. Most of all I don’t want him extinct from this existence. That fact trumped all the others. I could withstand any amount of torture if I knew he was still living. Still helping other people, doing what he was meant to do. I desperately wanted to tell him that I love him. My pride kept me from it. How humiliating would it be to confess my feelings for him and not have them be reciprocated? It would kill me. Torture sounded like a much better option. Although I would probably change my mind once, or if that happened.

Switching my train of thought to the important question at hand. How the hell could I manage to get away from him? My mind always going back to the same idea. When he sleeps. It was the only way. It gave me enough time to put some distance between us. Problem number two, he rarely sleeps. I had a hunch he would before he went to hell. He would need all the strength he could get.

“You look like you’re struggling with something. Anything I can help with?” He asked stepping out onto the balcony.

Startling me back into reality. I was scared at that moment he would see right through me. Looking up at him towering above me, he was magnificent. I wondered at that moment how gorgeous he was in heaven, with his wings. He had to have been a spectacular sight. His massive body now knelt down beside me, his long legs still put him quite a bit higher than me. Looking into his eyes, I tried to find my answers. Does he love me? Would he care if I left? Or would he be angrier that he lost his assignment? Part of me wanting to know. The other part of me didn’t. “I’m okay. Crap I said I wouldn’t lie. I’m mediocre at best.” I said flashing the best fake smile I could muster.

Sitting down beside me, his hands slumped on his knees. “I know you don’t want me to go Carma. I will not lie to you either, there is a chance I won’t come back. In that case you will be reassigned to another angel. This is my job. What I do.”

My heart sinking, I knew that. I knew he would do it for anyone. It was that romantic little girl in me that wanted it to be more than what it actually was. The same little girl that imagined picket fences and a big happy house with multiple children. He didn’t have a clue when I gave him my body last night that I gave him everything else along with it. Heart and soul. I didn’t mind giving up the picket fence around that big happy house, even the children I could give up….for him. He was the one I didn’t want to give up. “I know you feel like you have to go. Doesn’t mean I have to like it. Or accept it.” Adding that last part in against my better judgment.

Pulling me close, under his arm, “I will do my best to come back. I promise you that.”

That wasn’t good enough. That wasn’t anywhere near good enough.

“Listen Carma. I’m not very good with this whole telling my human feelings sort of thing.”

Cutting him off, “Doesn’t angels have feelings?”

“Yeah but we don’t have to tell anything. If we want someone to know some sort of feeling we just project it.”

“Oh. Go on.” Lacing my fingers together, bringing my knees up.

“I just hope you know that I don’t or never have made a habit of sleeping with humans.”

Shaking my head, “How about angels?” I couldn’t help it, I had to ask.

“No, never made a habit of that either.” Squeezing my shoulder, kissing me on the top of the head. “Since I have been so forthcoming, how about you?”

“No, you’re the first angel I have slept with.” Looking up at him, smiling.

“Very funny.”

“Well when you can feel the emotions of another person and then be able to tell if they’re lying, that pretty much ruins the mood. So, no. Only a couple of sad notches on my bed post.”

His body relaxed and although he wasn’t happy about those notches, he could deal with it. He wanted her, never to share her. To make her forget any others that she has laid down with because that was what she did for him. He fully planned on coming back. Everything within his power would get him through this battle. Looking down at her, he knew Alexander and the High Council would never let him have her. When his wings got taken away he thought he would never feel that sort of pain again. He now knew this pain would be far worse. Being pulled away from her someday. Being told never to see her again. Angels were not allowed to stay in touch with previous assignments. They are afraid the humans will be come to attached. Believing they turn their head on Rose all these years knowing that there was no love between them. They wouldn’t turn their head on this one. He knew that. He dreaded that day. He didn’t know exactly when he fell in love with her. The first moment he saw her in the dance club, his body was reacting differently than it ever has. Every moment in between has left him wanting more. The day has come that he figured hell would freeze over first. He is in love. He hated that fact. Now knowing he had to learn to live with that realization.

“It’s probably time to iron out some of the details. You will be staying at the abandoned house with Rylan, Aiden and Gabriel.”

“Why there? Why not here?” Asking curious.

“Most of the demons know the location of my house now.” Saying matter of fact. Continuing, “After I take you to the house, I will be back for you as soon as I can. Do not leave under any circumstances with Rylan or Aiden. If they say they need to take you somewhere, you are not permitted to go.”

“Why? I don’t understand.” Looking up into his face confused.

“It’s not for you to understand. If you must leave, Gabriel has instructions. You go with him.”

“I don’t get it. I thought you said Gabriel isn’t strong enough to protect me?”

“He is the only one that I have a minimal amount of trust in.”

“That’s reassuring.” Keeping myself from rolling my eyes from the anxiety of it all.

“You’re so beautiful angel girl. I just want to keep that stunning face intact.”

“Awe, that’s the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.” Looking up into his dark eyes.

Laughing, “Then that’s pretty sad.”

Taking his hand and running it down my cheek, then down my arm, pressing his lips to mine. The remainder of the tension slipped away. Watching him stand up, he looked down at my briefly in thought. Lifting me up into his arms, he carried me inside. The doors slamming shut behind him, his clothes melted away and I was against his bare skin.