Divinity: The Gathering: Book One (26 page)

She was so vulnerable right now, and the seeds of trust that I meant to plant, were slowly being sown.

At least it was my master plan.

She awoke and yawned just as I pulled into the street paralleling the expansive parking lot of the university on the left. She stretched, and sat up straighter, realizing where we were.

“Oh
, I’m sorry. I hadn’t realized I’d fallen asleep. That was one big burger but it really hit the spot.” She said.

I laughed softly, “Don’t worry about it. I knew it was coming anyw
ay. Once all the adrenaline died down— not to mention topping it off with food, it was inevitable.” I told her.

She laughed a bit, “The b
urger was delicious though. I— didn’t snore did I?” She hesitantly asked me with sincerity, as she rubbed her eyes, and then glanced over at me.

I laughed
again, “Just a little.” I joked with her.

She was mortified
.

“I’m kidding.” I
smirked.

She pursed her lips in a wry smile
, but with a look of relief.

Actually, I hadn’t been kidding
, but I didn’t want her to feel embarrassed, and I liked that fact that even though she was beautiful, she was a human being. Strong willed, imperfect, and vulnerable, yet brave, and that in itself was something I admired more than anything about her and mortals in general.

“It wasn’t that I didn’t want to talk. I guess I didn
’t realize just how exhausted I really have been lately. The catnap was much needed for me. Oh, turn here and make the curve, then a right at the stop sign, and head all the way down past sorority row towards the end, and then make a left at the next stop sign. My apartment building will be the last large, gray brick building on the left at the end of the circle,” She said as she shifted and moved to gather her things.

“You don’t live in the dorms?” I asked her.

“The apartments are still considered on campus living.” She replied.

“Why not just liv
e on campus?” I questioned.

She groaned at the mention of it, “I used to last year
, but my roommate and I moved over the summer once we were able to. I guess since I’ve been an only child, I’m a little spoiled and used to having everything of my own. My roommate is my best friend anyway, so it works fine for me. Privacy is a pricey privilege, but it’s worth it to have your own bathroom and kitchen. I mean the apartment building is still set up like the other campus halls inside, and we have several RA’s too.” She explained.

“I see. Well I can definitely understand that. Is she there now?” I smiled
, and then asked.

“More than likely
, but I’m sure she’s already asleep.” She said glancing at the time on her cell phone display that she had been scrolling through to check messages, I assumed.

I felt awkward for a momen
t, wanting to ask her out, but unsure how she would take it. Would it be too forward? Maybe she had a boyfriend. I did see the name Joel Carson on her phone when her cell phone rang earlier. She did meet him in the courtyard earlier before they left together for lunch. He certainly adored her from the scent and vibes that I picked up from him, but her scent and vibes about him remained neutral to me, even though she obviously liked and cared about him it seemed. I found him peculiar too, something about his aura struck me as strange yet familiar, and I couldn’t quite put my finger on it.

I found myself becoming more and more charmed and reverent, over being simply filled with lust for her. The longer we talked, and we talked about many general things surrounding the university, a few topics in the news — the more I became captivated with her. Even Rahab had turned on the charm, and couldn’t stop flirting with her either. There was something about her that brought out warmth and benevolence, and I wondered for a moment, if that was what made her so different; why her aura so bright. I wanted to know more about her. This could not be the last time I would be with her.

I prayed th
at the gift from Elohim was that he would grant me permission to be able to have more time with her, even knowing that it would lead nowhere. Regardless, her time as a mortal was running short, and coming to an end very soon. I knew that I was not allowed to have this, because he would stop it or take it away from me if it came anywhere remotely close. Even I would not be able to push those limits, and get away with it nor would I even try to especially when I’ve already given my word.

If Elohim
remembered anything in his creation of me, it was that I’ve always kept my word. Morning Star may have been right on one aspect as much as I hated to think and remind myself of it. I was cursed to forever be used as a tool for pleasure mine and by both mortal and immortal women. I would always be desired and idolized for my looks alone, but in my defense, none of the women actually took the time to know me, and I never bothered to get to know any of them.

However
, I often pondered what would happen if I actually took that time for once? I wanted to with Star, but she was going to be a divine warrior. She wouldn’t even know or remember me after that. We would become and remain enemies. She would hate me, and desire to slay me, and I may just let her to end my existence once and for all.

I found a space and parked the
cruiser; turning off the engine. I think it surprised her in wondering why I had done so. I wasn’t about to let her walk in there on her own, especially considering her bad ankle. Who would stop or question me? I was an officer with a badge and a gun.

She moved to open the passenger side door
, but I spoke first, “Wait, I still want to know what really happened to your face.” I said to her, and she turned to face me in surprise.

I figured I’d take another shot at the question
, and hope to get the truth this time since we had broken the ice per se.

I heard her sigh, “You wouldn’t believe me. No one would so
what does it matter?” She replied softly.

It was my turn to look at her with my full a
ttention now, and I fixated her with a serious gaze that I hoped conveyed to her that I was listening, and that I would believe her, because I already knew anyway.

I switch
ed on the overhead light so she could see me better, and she looked away for a moment in thought.

“Try me.” I then said.

She paused, and then shook her head, “It…was a freak thing.” She began as if she didn’t want to give me the truth, just yet.

“I’m listening.” I replied.

She looked up at me, and then closed her eyes for a minute.

The shape of her
face was like a perfect, fragile doll. I hated that ugly bruising that spoiled her perfect pout.

She sat back against the seat for a while
, and we both sat in silence as I waited for her to speak.

“In my experiences, I’ve seen the ugliest sides of humanity at its worst
, and horrors that you could never even begin to imagine. I’ve always managed to keep an open mind, I’ve had to. Anyone in this world would be a fool not to, so don’t think that anything you want to tell me will seem…silly, unbelievable or ridiculous.” I told her to give her an opening.

She looked over at me then and eyed me, “Don’t be so sure about that. What horrors are you tal
king about?” She asked with interest. Her pretty eyes were brightening, and she seemed more alert once again.

I smiled, “Let’s just say that there is very little that would or could ever shock or surprise me.” I then said.

She paused for a moment. “Do you believe that there’s more in this world around us…than meets the eye? Like other-worldly forces?” She asked.

“Other-worldly? Like Aliens? Ghosts?” I said on purpose, wanting her to c
ome right out and say the word— even though it agitated the mere surface of my skin and ears to simply hear that misnomer in regards to myself, and those in my legion.

She sighed and chuckled a bit, “No, not ghosts or Aliens. Other things like the for
ces of good and evil.” She went on to say.

I nodded, “I’ve always believed that.” I carefully told her.

She seemed surprised at my response, which was a good thing.

She
smiled, and nodded with a glance out of the window towards her apartment.

“Well, I’ll leave it at that then, for now. I’m on the verge of crashing again so I don’t really wa
nna get into anything heavy.” She then said as she stifled a yawn, and opened the car door.

I couldn’t b
elieve she was going to leave me hanging like that that, or was she implying that she’d like to see me again? Should I take a chance and ask her out anyway?

I opened my door
as well, and I didn’t wait for her to protest, feeling that she was about to, as I got out and came around to help her.

She stepped out and gathered her things, “Um, thanks. You don’t have to walk me to my apartment though.” She said.

“No, but I want to make sure you make it okay,” I told her.

“The only danger here would be the trip up to the second floor, we don’t have elevators.” She chuckled referring to her sore ankle.

“Stairs? Dangerous enough there’s no question then,” I quickly cut in and picked up her, the crutch and her bag, all in one move, and carried her all the way up to the front doors. She weighed nothing, which further angered me more thinking back to the void demon that hit her.

She gasped
with a look of surprise branding her face, but held onto me while clutching her purse and tote bag against her body with her other arm.

I believe
I rendered her speechless.

“Don’t
— really, I can walk…” She said, but I ignored her, and held her firmly against me.

She continued to argue against my assi
stance, to which I continued to ignore her protests until she eventually resigned with a sigh.

Giving up, she pulled out a card key with her photo printed on it; attached to a retractable badge clip
, and waved it in front of the electronic reader. It beeped and the red light changed to green.

I backed up to open the door
, and headed inside. There were a few female students sitting around the lobby, and engaged in quiet conversations on the sofas. This appeared to be a common lounge area, complete with several types of vending machines, a wall mounted television, tables, chairs and couches. The instant they saw us, they all ceased what they had been doing with mouths agape in curiosity.

I already knew what they were staring at
, and she blushed, not saying a word.

“Down the hall to the right at the v
ery end, there’s a stairwell. It’s apartment sixteen B on the second floor,” She said to me, as I headed straight for the directions she gave me.

“I’m never gonna hear the end of this one,” She shook her head, her face red with embarrassment.

“Being injured?” I smiled.

“That part I can live with
,” She replied.

“Well, you’ll definitely be popular in the next few days explaining this one.” I joked with a simper.

“Thanks.” She said meaning it sarcastically, as she closed her eyes in order to avoid further eye contact with the other curious girls.

I made a point to move quickly
, as we rounded the corner into the stairwell, and I briskly climbed the stairs and pushed through the next heavy wooden door. For behaving as if she didn’t want me carrying her, little did she realize that her body was conveying a much different message…or maybe she did?

The scent of lust and craving permeating from her was incredibly strong
, but she was playing it off well. Her face showed no sign that she without a doubt, obviously found me sexually attractive. That didn’t surprise me though. I could hear her heart thumping rapidly with the excitement of lust in her chest. As for me, I don’t think I’ve ever fought against something so hard in my existence, and I prayed that I remained— not so physically obvious by the time I put her down.

             
Once we entered the corridor where her apartment was located, she sighed in relief that it was empty.

“I can walk from here, thanks.” She said
, and I finally conceded by putting her down gently.

I heard her
barely moan softly when I purposefully slid her down the length of my torso, and I smiled internally to myself.

She seemed flustered
, as she blushed and worked to fish her keys out of her purse all while avoiding eye contact with me. I remained following close behind her, and watching her walk. The limp that she had earlier wasn’t as bad as it had been, but it was still there. I looked around, memorizing the place…to be able to ghost into later.

I had no intentions of spying on her but I needed to know how to
get to her quickly if I had to.

“Well, this is it. Thank again, for everything O
fficer…”