Fallen (53 page)

“I did,” he confirmed
, his guilty expression returning
.
“When I told you the first day we met that I was looking for someone and that I’d found her here. That someone was you.”

Now it was me who was astonished. “Because I’m the messenger
…
” I couldn’t believe how ignorant I’d been. “Obviously…
you
showed up at the same time as all the rest of the Fallen Ones.”

“Right. I wasn’t the first. Achan discovered you before me.”

“That’s something I wanted to ask you actually…” I ventured. “How exactly did you find me?”

He stared at me awkwardly, debating on how best to answer, and replied hesitantly,
“We
, uh, we feel you.”

“Really?”

“Yes, um, the best way
to
describe it is feeling like you are in a constant state of electrocution.”

“So it’s painful?” I clarified.

“Yes, very much at first but you get used to it.”

“
It’s no wonder you’re all glaring at me all the time,” I pondered.

He gave me an odd expression
.
“So
you know I’m not the only one
?
”

“For a while now.”

“
Can you sense any
Fallen One
?”

“I think so. I sensed Achan, Sarai, Sharar…You.”

He stared at me, dumbfounded. “And you still befriended me?”

“I didn’t know who you were until it was too late. By then, your soft side had already been revealed.”
Though I intended to tease him, my voice sounded bland, unrecognizable to me.

“This isn’t funny,”
h
e chastised
and the seriousness of his tone chilled me a bit
. “That radar is there for a reason
, Maggie
.”

“I know…I know.” I looked away not wanting to hear it.

“You’re lucky…that I’m different than the others,” he said,
clearly
perturbed.

“
Yes, I realize that…
” I was tired of hearing others tell me that my life
was
constantly
in danger. That
fact was clear to me. “There’s something that I don’t understand. W
hy are you different? You’re the only one who hasn’t tried to kill me yet.”

His jaw immediately
clamped shut
and
he
looked away, his
face
etched
with
remorse
.

“Or do you plan to?” I asked, hesitantly
, hoping I was misreading his expression
.

He shook his head, still looking away. “No, I’m not like the others.
” He sigh
ed
,
discouraged. “That’s not true. I am like them in the way that…that
I have taken lives before
.”

He waited to see how I would react but I concentrated on keeping my face still.
I didn’t want my actions to keep him from telling me what he evidently needed to confess.
Seeing nothing, he continued
,
struggling through his declaration of guilt.
“
But I will not take yours. Your life is safe with me.” He stopped to stare intently at me and what he said next seemed more like an apology to me than a statement. “
I wil
l forever be repaying that debt. I openly accept it,
whether I’m
forgiven or not
.”

When he fell quiet,
I reached out to place a comforting hand on his shoulder but he
shied
away.

“It should be me who is comforting you,” he
mumbled
. He
gave me a
grave expression
and said,
“The least I can do is attempt to save you.
That is why I’m here. I came back for you.
I-I move around
Fallen One
s and there’s talk
that
Abaddon
will appear
. I’m not sure
,
but
I think
other
Fallen One
s will be there to
o, to
assist
.
If
not
assist, then
simply to watch.”

“
Abaddon
? Who’s
Abaddon
?”

“
He’s the
most feared of
our kind
.
He’s im
perious
, Maggie
…i
ndestructible
…t
enacious. Once he has decided to take a life – human or otherwise – he never fails.”

“Great…” I muttered. “And am I to assume he’s
appearing
again in order
to come after
me?”

“There’s no assuming, Maggie. It’s been confirmed.”

I allowed that news to sink in,
waiting
for
the
feeling of fear to surface, but nothing came. The emptiness permeating me after Eran’s admission the night before left me inescapably repressed.

I shoved aside
that
line of thought to
find
Gershom shaking his head at me
. “
You have some powerful enemies
, Maggie
. It takes a lot to protect you. Time and energy.”

I almost laughed
,
but couldn’t muster the emotional energy
it required.
“I’ve heard that before.”

He didn’t find the humor in my reply. “You and your roommates need to leave town…now.”

“I was just on my way,” I
commented as
my hear
t
skipped a beat.
It took a
minute
for his entire message to register with me.
“What
did you just say
? About
my roommates?”

He gave me a bleak look.
“
Abaddon
doesn’t leave any loose ends.”

“They aren’t loose ends, Gershom. They have nothing to do with this.
”

Gershom shook his head and dropped his shoulders reluctantly. “It doesn’t matter.
Abaddon
will use them to get to you
.
They’re in danger, Maggie. They need to leave town
with you
.”

Anger welled up in me
,
surprising me with its intensity. When I spoke
,
it was through clenched te
eth. “I was told once that the
Fallen One
s will never stop chasing me. Does that now include my roommates?”

Our eyes met
and
I noticed
his were filled with sadness. “He leaves no loose ends, Maggie.”

It took
what seemed like
a long
time
before I could quell my
fury
. I was only slightly aware of my fists opening and
closing
and my
pursed
lips
quivering. Gershom gave me time, though I could see the nervous hurry in his expression.

Once again, I was putting others at risk.
This was not acceptable.

“What will you do
, Gershom
? Are you in danger also?”

“I’ve walked with
Abaddon
for a moment in time. I know him better than anyone, what he’s capable of. I’m your best chance at getting you all out of here alive.”

“
I’ll ask it again. Are you in danger
?” I
demanded.

He was reluctant to answer, his mouth pinching together in protest.

“I won’t leave without knowing you’ll be alright,” I stated,
unwavering
.

“
I don’t deserve your sympathy, Maggie.”

“Gershom,” I urged.

“I will do my best to sta
y out of harm’s way, al
l
right?” h
e finally conceded, though it was clear he only did it for my benefit. Still, I’d gotten his word for it and that appeased me more than if he hadn’t said anything
at all
.

“Good. What do we do now?”

“
Now…
” He drew in a quick breath. “Now
w
e r
un
.”