Empyreal: Awaken - Book One (12 page)

“Prove it to me ... that
this
,
you
...
everything
... that it's all real ... You're
right. I know that you know more ... more about me than I know
about myself…”

“Cor –”

“I want to know what you
know...”

Court turned his entire frame to face
her now, holding her body close to his. “I promise you, Coralie, I
will show you all that you ever needed or wanted to know ... you
have my word...”

And with that, only those few words
from Court's lips, Coralie realized something. Something
overwhelming.

Court had feelings for her ... he had
made that perfectly clear. And she knew exactly to the depths of
which those feelings ran. She knew only because she felt them.
Every time he touched her hand or the small of her back or looked
deep into her eyes. She felt the feelings that dwelled in Court’s
heart and resided in his soul.

But it was also in that very moment
that she realized something else. Coralie realized that he was not
the only one that had these feelings.

She felt the same. Down to the depths
of her soul.

Even from the very first moment they
had spent together, she had felt like herself. Like the real
Coralie had suddenly emerged, materializing before the
world.

“Let's get you home...” Court said,
extending his hand, and backing away slowly.

Coralie stared into Court’s eyes and
smiled as she took his hand, knowing that she would follow him
anywhere.

The two of them pulled up into the drive of the
Collier’s house. The house was dark, aside from the foyer light
shining through the side light panels of the front door. Her
parents must be out, Coralie realized.

Court opened his door and quickly made
his way to the passenger side door. He opened it and helped her out
of the car.

Coralie felt the night air surround
her. It was warm enough to still be comfortable but still cool
enough to give her a chill. But suddenly, she was not quite sure if
the chill was from the night air.

Something didn't feel
right.

Pushing her feelings aside, she took
Court's extended hand and followed him toward the front steps. As
they ascended each step, side by side, she became very aware of his
every breath against the night air. So calm, so at ease, not even
the tiniest sign of acceleration, anxiousness, or
nervousness.

She couldn't say the same for herself,
feeling her breath skip, along with her heart, as the warmth of
Court's hand sent electricity coursing through her. As they stopped
in front of the door, Coralie's breath caught in her chest. Again,
never failing.

Court leaned in close. “I had a very
nice time tonight, thank you...”

“Me, too ...,” This was all Coralie
could manage to get out in response.

“Coralie?”

“Yes...”

“I promise...” he started, as he
gently shifted her hair back away from the side of her face. He let
his fingers gently linger behind, resting along the side of her
cheek. “I promise you, that I will be here for you – whatever you
need, whenever you need it – I'm here ... Always...” Then he leaned
in closer to her. So close, she could feel his breath on her lips.
“And I promise,” he paused, “that I will not rest until you know
the truth...”

And with those words, he leaned in,
breathed in deep and paused, leaving a kiss on her forehead. He,
then, tilted her face toward his and leaned in, kissing her cheek
softly. “I will see you tomorrow, okay...”

“Okay...” she managed to say aloud.
Coralie could feel herself slowly becoming like jelly. She felt
that she could just as easily seep through the cracks of the wooden
porch slats as she was standing there.

She fumbled around with the door, not
tearing her eyes from Court who was descending the steps. She
watched him for as long as she possibly could; slowly closing the
door.

She peered through the side panel
windows and watched as the taillights of Court's Jeep trailed down
the driveway. She watched them until the little red lights faded
into complete darkness.

Still feeling flutters in her stomach,
she sighed taking her eyes away from the window and forcing herself
to shift her body in the same direction. She leaned her back
against the door, took another deep breath inward, and then decided
to make her way into the kitchen for a glass water.

With one step undergone, the next was
disrupted by a knock at the door. Startled, Coralie turned around
at the sound. “Court?”

She asked herself, could Court have
forgotten something? Could he have turned around that
quickly?

Or her parents … Could they have
forgotten their key? “Mom? Dad?”

Suddenly, her mind took a turn.
Jacques ...
her thoughts traveled to her dog. Where was he?
Coralie's mind raced as she tried to recall if she had heard him
since she'd been home. She'd been so wrapped up within the
'butterflies' in her stomach that she couldn't remember hearing him
bark, growl, or whine.

All of the sudden, something did
trigger a memory. The feeling... The feeling she felt when she and
Court had gotten out of the car.

Something felt wrong. Something felt
strange. Strange, like someone was … watching. Watching
her
...

Could someone have been there?
Watching her? Could they have waited until Court left her?
Alone?

She walked slowly to the door, and
peered out of the side light panel windows.

Strange,
Coralie thought to
herself. There was absolutely nothing in the darkness. Nothing. No
one. Not even a sign.

Coralie started to back away from the
door, but she heard another knock, startling her again.

She walked back to the door and
cautiously began to open it, nervous as to what may be on the other
side. She swallowed hard, pushing her fears aside, and opened the
door about the width of her own body. The light from the foyer only
illuminated a fraction of the body that stood before
her.

Tall. Wide-Framed.
Dark.

Coralie felt fear catch in the pit of
her stomach, as she began trying to pull some sort of recognition
of the being that stood in front of her.

* * * * *

Beep. Beep.

“You got a sec?” Criston heard, as
soon as she plucked her phone from her back pocket and answered
it.

“Well, Brother, I'm actually a little
busy right now,” she said, gripping another side of timber and
hoisting herself onto the rafters.

“Just give me enough time for you to
listen – I've got an idea...”

“Try not to hurt yourself
–”

“I'm being serious –”

“Okay, go on if you
must...”

“Coralie has NO idea who she really is
... but I think that I can help...”

“Court, you need to leave this to the
Colliers, don't you think? She is their daughter.”

Cutting his sister off abruptly, Court
blurted out, “And she's also the –” He paused, taking a breath to
calm himself.

“What?”

“Forget it – I'm going to tell her. I
can't wait on the Colliers... they are dragging their feet too
much, plus... it's getting dangerous...”

“But –”

“But nothing – with her not knowing
who she really is, her life is in danger ... Coralie's existence
could be jeopardy! I can't just sit back and watch it
happen...”

“But Court, doesn’t she have
–”

“It’s not enough - I must protect
her!”

“Okay, okay … settle down … Look, I
just got word from Dad –”

“I know –”

“Of course you do … you just keep me
posted on what you want to do, and I'll try my best to help in any
way I can.”

“Thanks, Sister...”

“Hey, no problem … it's my duty,
right, Brother?”

Smiling, letting out a muffled
snicker, he replied to his sister's inside joke. “Right
–”

“Hello? Can I help you?” Coralie asked, trying
to cover the uneasiness in her voice.

The tall, dark, figure took a step
closer, allowing the light from the foyer to illuminate
him.
The young man smiled, his dark eyes shining like black pearls.
“Yes, I'm sorry to bother you, Miss, but I am looking for Professor
Collier. Is he in, by chance?”

“No, I'm sorry ... but he should be in
any minute, now...” Coralie answered, looking around
apprehensively.

“I apologize – I must have startled
you, with you being here alone...”

“You haven't...”

“Nonetheless, you have my apologies,
if so ... May I introduce myself?”

Coralie nodded, still leery and
untrusting.

“My name is Xavier,” he said, sticking
out his hand. He slowly re-coiled it, when Coralie did not accept
the gesture. Though, his demeanor never changed, he acted as if the
motion had never taken place, and continued. “I'm an intern for
Professor Collier. I had forgotten to run these by his office this
afternoon,” he said, holding a folder full of printed documents.
“The Main Office at the University said that I should try him here.
I thought of just leaving them in the mailbox,” he continued, with
a shrug of his shoulders, “but these are very important documents.”
The young man smiled, “Not to mention that I am still trying to
make a good impression, you know, I don't want to come off as
incompetent or forgetful – I would hate to appear as a
slacker.”

“I'm sure he will be pleased,” Coralie
said, allowing herself to speak.

“Ah, I've won you over already, have
I?” Xavier said, with a smile.

Coralie relaxed a bit, allowing
herself to smirk and extend her hand as a friendly gesture. “I
guess so, I'm sorry, I should probably introduce myself ... I am
–”

“Coralie Collier … I know who you are.
Your father speaks very highly of you. He is very proud. Very
proud, indeed ... as I can see why...”

“Thank you … that's very nice to hear.
He's pretty great, my Dad...”

“Yeah...?”

“Yeah...” she started with a smile,
feeling a minute sense of something, resembling trust. “Would you
like to come in and wait? My parents shouldn't be too much
longer...”

“No, thanks ... I must be
going...”

Suddenly, Coralie's feeling in the pit
of her stomach had begun to slither back in. “But surely, coming
all this way ... I mean, I would hate for you to feel that you came
all this way for
nothing.”

“Oh – I don't feel that way at all,
Coralie – none at all...” he said, with a smile.

There was something in his smile.
Something that did not feel right. Something that did not feel so
friendly anymore. Something that felt quite unnerving, and quite
familiar in the same.

“Thanks, again, but I really should be
on my way. I will see you soon, Coralie.” Xavier said, with an
unsettling grin. His eyes of black pearls glittered in the
luminance of light. “Very soon...” He turned to descend the
steps.

Coralie watched him, walk away with
such ease. Ease. This was something she did not feel. Something
about him was so discomforting. She couldn't place it. Something
about Xavier was just not right.

Just as Xavier had reached the bottom
of the front steps, Coralie called out, “Wait, Xavier – didn't you
have something for my Dad?”

“Oh right – umm, it can save until
tomorrow.”

“But, I thought –”

“You know, some things are just better
done in person ... see you around, Coralie Collier.”

“See ya,” Coralie said, trying to
sound nonchalant.

She closed the door and locked it
swiftly behind her. That feeling in her stomach – the unsettling,
shaky, unnerving, feeling – had returned. She felt much more
sickened than before.

Something about Xavier, something
about his house call, seemed all wrong.

Coralie took the phone from her bag
that lay in the foyer arm chair, where she had tossed it as she had
entered the front door.

She began to walk toward the kitchen,
opening her phone and dialing numbers from memory. She looked out
of the kitchen window.

No taillights. Complete
darkness. Strange.

Coralie, without looking, moved her
finger toward the top of the phone.
Send.

Not even a full ring had sounded
before Court answered. “Coralie? Are you okay?”

“Yes, it's just –”

“What wrong? Who – I mean, what just
happened?”

“Forget it – it was nothing, really
... I just got a little spooked, that's all.”

“I'm on my way –”

Coralie paused, hearing the front door
open. “Coralie, honey?” she heard her mother call out.