Fall From Grace (2 page)

“Hostile?” Sammy turned and took her hand.
“Give yourself a break. You lost your mother in a car accident,
found out your father’s a hunter, killed a head demon, oh, and
don’t forget your first romance is with my brother, the infamous
self-brooding fallen angel. Now, if that’s not reason enough to be
a little cranky I don’t know what is.”

Sammy waved vigorously.

Boon sat in the front row, eyes transfixed
on Sammy. His glasses resting low on his nose. “You and Boon are
perfect for each other. Does it bother you that no one else seems
to understand? You know, head cheerleader with…well—”

“I don’t care that Boon’s considered a geek
because of his small frame. Humans don’t tend to see the inner
beauty of a person. And let me tell you, he’s breathtaking.”

“You are destined to be together. I can see
that.” Watching them gave Gaby hope. Someday she’d have that kind
of bond with Alexander.

Sammy blew Boon a kiss. “After being
separated for two thousand years, I’m blessed to have him by my
side again.”

Gaby glanced back at the offending float in
time to see Avery snuggle up to Alexander, atop of a box, next to a
papier-mâché castle. Cinderella and Prince Charming.

Another flash lit the sky. No bolts, just a
sheet of light. But if those clouds moved any closer, the school
would cancel the rest of the parade. Not that Gaby would mind.

When Avery suggested the fairy tale theme,
Gaby should’ve realized what she was up to. Gaby tugged at her
oversized sock-stuffed bra and straightened her cone hat.

The parade came to a halt at the front of
the stadium and the seniors unloaded first. The court took their
positions on the fifty-yard line, while the rest of the
participants stood near the bleachers. Speakers squealed, and the
announcer resumed the homecoming ceremonies. Avery primped with a
small hand held mirror with all the pomp and circumstance of true
royalty.

“Time for coronation of this year’s
Homecoming King and Queen of Kemp High School. Avery DeSota and
Alexander Lorre step forward!”

Thunder rumbled in the distance, but the
vibration reached all the way to under their feet.

Gaby clutched the side of a bleacher to
steady herself. Air swooshed from her lungs. She struggled to
breathe and kept reminding herself Sammy was right. There was
nothing to worry about. Alexander didn’t care about Avery, and she
needed to let go of this new angsty teenage thing.

“Students be advised that if the storm grows
closer the rest of the program will be canceled.” The voice over
the loud speaker spoke with less enthusiasm.

Alexander looked back, waved, and smiled.
Her heart fluttered.

The homecoming court, led by the new king
and queen, marched down the fifty-yard line to the podium and
accepted their crowns.

An ocean breeze whipped through the stadium
lifting Avery’s dress. Giggling, she smoothed the skirt down then
grabbed Alexander’s hand, lifted it into the air, and pulled him in
for a kiss.

The crowd erupted. “Whoot, whoot,
whoot.”

Bolts of lightning shot through the sky as
if Zeus had sent four prongs of fire from his fork. Thunder boomed,
and students gasped.

Hands clenched, Gaby turned away, swallowing
past the dryness in her throat. She closed her eyes and tried to
clear her mind. But something dark welled up inside like she’d
never experienced. An inferno of hate bubbled to the surface. She
concentrated on happy thoughts, but the demon blood coursing
through her veins demanded the monster inside be released.

****

Alexander pushed Avery away but not before
her sadness seeped into him. He reached to caress her face but
retracted it. Too many people watched, and his movement would
appear as a loving gesture instead of an angelic stroke of healing.
But why did she hide such sadness?

Lightning struck the ground next to the
senior float. Burnt tissue paper floated to the track, and a dull
rumble vibrated underground. Avery jumped and crushed against him.
The senior float creaked as the axle busted in half and clanged to
the asphalt. The castle tumbled to the ground.

A hint of ash wafted from her hair. An all
too familiar scent…no…there were no demons left. The scent came
from the burning bits of paper from the float.

Still, Alexander scanned the area. He let
out a long breath. Gaby stood twenty feet away with Sammy by her
side. Even in that ridiculous costume, she stole the show. Her
golden hair danced around her beautiful porcelain face.

Avery whimpered into his chest while he
absently stroked her hair, sending waves of calming energy through
her. No one would notice considering the…chaos…demons.

This incident reeked of demonic
manipulation. Maybe one of Forras’ old buddies hadn’t fled the area
after his death. Gremory or Donn could have regrouped and taken
over as local head demon.

Focusing on vibes of corruption and mayhem,
Alexander cleared his mind and searched for threats in the
surrounding area. Beyond hundreds of drunk and disorderly teenagers
surrounding him, running around in panicked mania, there wasn’t
evil lurking in the shadows.

He scanned the crowd. If there was a demon,
Boon would handle it. But there wasn’t any sign of him.

There had to be an explanation. Alexander
led Avery down the field toward the bleachers in hopes of catching
up with Gaby. He stopped at the edge of the green turf.

The bleachers started to rattle. Screams and
the thundering of feet beating against the stairs echoed. Alexander
lost sight of Gaby through the crowd. He had to find and protect
her. Pushing his way through the mass of screaming students he
spotted her. Sammy huddled by her side.

The far-end seats collapsed, sending dust
and dirt to join the smoke from the smoldering grass. The last of
the students made it off the steps, and the principal’s voice
echoed over the loud speaker sending everyone from the field to the
safety of the school building.

Pale pink pulsed around Gaby. Only another
angel could see Sammy’s calming aura.

Gaby turned and faced him, a hint of orange
danced across her ocean blue eyes. Alexander’s stomach knotted.
Could Gaby’s powers have surfaced? If so, why would she terrorize
Kemp High School students?

He leaned Avery against a cement pylon and
turned back to find Boon ushering students behind the
bleachers.

No. Alexander was being paranoid. If her
powers had surfaced that would mean…oh, God. A demon
had
returned, and Gaby wasn’t ready. None of them was.

Chapter Two

Alexander stood on the front porch of his
home watching the morning sunrays. A shimmer of light exploded on a
crested wave, only to collapse into the surf. Up before dawn, he’d
spent the last several hours canvassing the woods and beach, while
Boon scouted the orange grove and outside Gaby’s house. Scouring
the area, he found no sign of any demons.

A fresh ocean breeze swept across the porch
cooling his skin. He sat down and listened to the calming surf.

If Gaby’s powers
were
surfacing, a
demon wasn’t far away. And since tonight was the Homecoming Dance,
they had to know for sure.

Alexander spotted Boon through the white
spindles of the front porch. “You find anything?”

The screen door creaked and slammed behind
him.

“Hi.” Sammy greeted Alexander, but her eyes
stayed fixed on Boon. They lit up at the sight of each other. Boon
cupped Sammy’s chin and pulled her face to meet his. Her eyes
glistened. Alexander had never seen her so happy but didn’t want to
watch them make out in front of him either.

He cleared his throat. “Did she say anything
about what happened?”

Sammy turned to face him. “No. But one of
the bleachers completely collapsed. We were lucky no one was
killed.” Sammy held Boon’s hand and led him over to the white
wicker love seat across from Alexander.

Alexander shifted in his seat. “How’s Gaby?
Thought I’d go check on her.”

Sammy stroked her thumb across Boon’s hand
and looked at Alexander with a soft smile. “She headed back to her
house a few minutes ago. Poor thing was so exhausted last night I
had to fly her home.”

“Oh.” Alexander could hear the
disappointment in his own voice and winced. He’d hoped to take Gaby
on one of their morning walks down the beach.

“Don’t worry. You’ll have her all to
yourself after the dance tonight.” Boon reassured him.

“I know. It’s just…do you guys seriously
think that Gaby caused all that? Did she say anything about
it?”

“No. She claims her powers haven’t surfaced,
and she has no idea why all that happened,” Sammy said.

“Do you believe her?” Boon’s face twisted
after the words left his mouth.

Alexander clutched the arm of the chair.
“Why would she lie? After all we’ve been through, she’d tell me if
her powers were surfacing. She’d need me to help her through the
transition. I mean, she’ll need all our help.”

Boon scratched his forehead. “But her powers
weren’t supposed to surface yet. The last communication Grace
received from Gaby’s mother was that Gaby’s powers wouldn’t surface
for a few years.”

Sammy leaned forward. “Unless there’s a
demon. Her powers would surface as sort of a defense
mechanism.”

“If there is a demon, we’ve got a big
problem with the Homecoming Dance.” Boon paused and tentatively
glanced at Alexander. “If her powers are surfacing she might not
even know it. The danger lies in controlling something she doesn’t
even know she possesses. Remember, this is new territory. Even
Heaven doesn’t know exactly how this merge of demonic-angelic
powers will go. What if she has an episode and causes the roof to
cave in on everyone at the dance?”

“I’ll stay with her. If there’s any sign of
trouble, we’ll leave. Or we won’t go at all.” Alexander
offered.

Sammy clutched Alexander’s arm. “You have to
go. If there’s a demon around, he might be on the hunt for the one
that could destroy them. Right now our best defense is to keep them
from figuring out who Gaby really is. Since you’re Homecoming King,
you’ve got to go.”

Alexander nodded in acknowledgement.

“Kids, you out there? Breakfast is ready.”
Grace’s voice rang from inside the house.

Boon tensed.

“What is it?” Alexander glanced around the
yard.

“Don’t know. Sensed something.”

“A demon?”

“Can’t tell.” Boon stepped toward the beach.
“If so, it’s far away at the moment.”

The screen door creaked open, and the smell
of fresh baked bread replaced the salty air as they walked through
the door.

“Yum, Paninis.” Sammy slid into one of the
dining chairs.

Grace set a large platter down in the center
of the table and took her seat. “Heard it was an unpleasant
evening. I thought you all would enjoy a fun breakfast.”

“Thanks.” Boon snatched one and dug in.
Cheese dripped down from the edge of his chin.

Grace nibbled on hers for a few moments then
glanced at Alexander. Her probing eyes always checking on
everyone.

“I’m fine. It’s Gaby you need to worry
about.” Alexander took a bite hoping he wouldn’t have to elaborate.
How could he explain that he thought his girlfriend tried to kill a
bunch of students?

“Yes, I sat with her last night.” Grace
stuck a fork into the Panini and cut it. “She is troubled. Of
course, she won’t admit it. She is much like her father in that
way. Strong, and determined to not disappoint anyone.”

Alexander swallowed the warm, salty ham and
cheese and took a swig of milk. “We’re all here for her, she can
lean on us.”

“I know, but she doesn’t want to disappoint
you or her father. I guess she tries to protect the ones she loves.
Gee, who does that remind me of?” Sammy giggled.

Boon swipes his face with the back of his
sleeve. “Doesn’t Bruce get home tomorrow?”

“Yeah, she’s stressed about disappointing
him and causing him to drink again.” Sammy mumbled in between
bites.

“It’s not her fault he’s an alcoholic.”
Alexander heard the accusing tone in his voice but didn’t mean it.
He never blamed Bruce either; he was sick and was man enough to
seek help, for his daughter. It just bothered Alexander that Gaby
suffered for it.

Grace clasped her napkin in her hand and
placed it next to her plate. “We need to keep Gaby calm. I hope her
father coming home doesn’t add pressure to her already
strained…situation.”

Alexander caught her careful word choice.
She was hiding something. “What is it? There’s something you’re not
telling us.”

“I believe a scout demon has been sent. It
is extremely important that we keep Gaby calm so that the demon
doesn’t discover her. If he does, then we may all suffer for it.”
Grace worried the edge of the napkin.

Boon tensed, his gaze shot to rest on Grace.
Something wasn’t right. What weren’t they telling him?

“I know that the goal is to stop the war
before it begins, but even if it does come we’ll still beat it.
There is no way—”

“They’ll seal Heaven this time. Won’t they?”
Boon clutched the edge of the table; terror etched into the frown
lines on his face.

Sammy gasped.

Thoughts flooded his brain too fast to
process them all. Abandoned…ruled by Satan…Hell on Earth. “We’ll
need the angels to fight.”

“Too many were lost during the last war.
Angels locked in darkness forever. They can’t chance Hell defeating
Earth and breaching Heaven’s gates.”

There were only a handful of them to fight
on Earth. Without the warrior angels, they were doomed to live
eternity at Satan’s hand. The salty ham churned in Alexander’s
stomach. Fear stung his skin.

“It is imperative that we keep this from
Gaby. If we tell her, it will only provide more stress, igniting
powers she doesn’t have control over.” Grace warned.