Falter (32 page)

After his dramatic departure, the ceiling mended quickly, erasing any evidence that he’d barreled through it seconds before.
 

Gavyn faced the stove, continuing what he was doing without a glitch. “Hungry?” he asked, spooning some scrambled eggs onto a plate.

“Um, yeah. Listen, I’m sorry about the eavesdropping.”
 

Look at me. Tell me you’re not mad at me for listening in. Tell me you’re not going to lie to me.
 

I couldn’t bear it if he lied to me now.

“It’s ok. I wasn’t expecting him to drop in like he did.” He flipped a pancake effortlessly in the air. “Ya know, it’s been ten years since he’s been around—and then you showed up.” He finally looked at me and grinned. “He must like you.”

I smiled faintly. “What is it you need to tell me?” I slid onto a stool at the small bar across from him and waited, staring at the fork and knife he had placed neatly on a napkin to my right.
 

We had to get it out sometime, why not now?

“Here, eat up.” He sat the plate on the counter in front of me and ignored my question.

“Thanks,” I answered curtly, unfolding the napkin and resting it on my lap. I grabbed the knife and fork and cut into a syrup-drenched pancake, taking a bite and glaring at him expectantly while I chewed. I sat the knife and fork down, refusing another bite until he answered.

“Ugh.” He sighed and rolled his eyes, frustrated with my stubbornness. “Nevaeh, we have a lot to talk about. I know something that might answer some of your questions, but I can’t promise you won’t have more by the time we’re done. There is a lot I don’t know. Malach can only give me bits and pieces, which doesn’t help.” His gaze dropped, and he turned back to the stove to make another batch of pancakes. “So, eat for now. When you’re done, I’ll explain what I can.” He glanced over his shoulder to make sure I was putting food in my mouth.

I observed him in silence as I picked up my fork and took another bite. Quiet and thankful, I devoured my meal, agreeing to suspend the interrogation a little longer. Many thoughts raced through my head, but I came to realize how difficult it must be for Gavyn—having to introduce a person to something that was way more real and more complicated than most could even fathom.
 

 
Gavyn carried his own plate, stacked high with pancakes and eggs, to the spot at my left and straddled the stool, taking a seat next to me. Every so often, we exchanged a smile, or he tucked a fallen piece of hair behind my ear. Side by side, we finished our meal and coffee. We were comfortable in each other’s presence, but the room was charged with the loaded issues we needed to discuss.
 

Once we were filled to the brim with breakfast, we left our cleaned plates and empty cups on the counter. Gavyn took my hand and lead me into the bedroom.
 

My eyes scanned over his room, appreciating the simple details. I hadn’t noticed how nice it was in there before, probably because I was only noticing him.
 

Gavyn walked to the other side of the room and tied back the charcoal-colored curtains framing a small window opposite the door. I turned my head, examining the abstract painting I had seen before and admired the many shades of red brush strokes on the canvas.

Gavyn’s quick movement caught my attention as he turned around and leaned over his bed. His busy hands worked to unravel the twisted, cranberry-tinted blanket at the foot of his mattress, then dragged it to the headboard. His dark-green eyes glanced up and saw me watching. His lips curved up into an apologetic smile. “Sorry about the mess,” he said, his hands sliding over the cover to smooth out the wrinkles.
 

The yellow glow of a rising sun spilled into the room, contributing a soft ambience to the atmosphere. I felt at ease here with him—safe.

“We’ll be here awhile, so I figured we better get comfortable.” He laid down on the bed, propping his head up against the pine headboard, and crossed his ankles. Opening his arms, he invited me to lay with him.
 

I crawled onto the bed, cuddled into his warm side, and settled my head on his chest. For a moment, I wanted to give in to the strong beat of his heart against my temple and fall asleep, but too much was about to be revealed.

Gavyn’s arms held me tight against him, and a regretful sigh left his lungs. “Where to begin?”

“Can’t help you there, sorry.” I giggled, trying to alleviate the edge for him.

“Okay…” He paused, contemplating what he was about to say. “There is a story in the Heavens about a child. This child is special. It’s said to be Celatum, but more than that because it’s a half breed of some kind.”

“Half breed? What do you mean?” I interrupted, already confused.

“Well, they say it’s half Celata and half demon.” He stopped, possibly waiting for another question.
 

My insides knotted as I held back the hundreds of questions forming in my head.

He continued, “The story is old, and more like a prophecy. Nobody thinks it has actually happened, yet. They’re not even sure it will. Malach believes the story, though, so he’s bringing it up again—as he’s done a few times in the past.” He rolled his eyes. “From what I’ve heard, he does every time a Celata with unusual powers is initiated.”

“The angels talk about a female Celata that fell in love with a demon male. This is the only instance where the two came together willingly. It’s not unheard of for demons to mate with a human or Celatum, but usually the demons rape them.
 

“This demon…rumor says that he is the only one who chose to renounce his evil ways. He was so in love with this woman that he chose to surrender to God and relinquish the power he’d gotten from Satan when he took sides long before that. Somewhere along the way, they had a child. The Clavis. The Key.
 

“Satan heard about the demon’s choice and became furious. He, being the father of deceit, refused to allow the demon to leave. He forbade the demon from realm-jumping anymore, keeping him in Hell to rot.
 

“The woman was heartbroken and angry at God for not doing anything to save the demon, and that’s where the stories become different. Some say she killed the child, others say she ran away to find her lover. Only God knows the truth about what happened, or has yet to happen.” Gavyn’s caring hand smoothed my hair over and over again as I listened.

“The angels think that a being created by such strong races would be truly magnificent. It would hold powers beyond those ever seen before. Both realms would hunt the child and would sacrifice a lot to get it.” He paused, seeming to mull over something in his head.

I peered up into his eyes. “What are you saying, Gavyn? I mean, it’s a great story and all, but I don’t see what it has to do with me.”
 

Please don’t have anything to do with me.

“I don’t know, yet,” he said, his lips pressing together in a thin line.

I released the breath I was holding, relieved.
 

“But Malach seems to think it has everything to do with you. He thinks you are the child, Nevaeh.”

That familiar sour feeling crept back into my stomach and burned a path to my throat.
 

“No. That’s not possible.” I sat up, abandoning the safe, warm place next to Gavyn, and stared down at the ring on my thumb. I nervously spun it with my other hand.

“Why not?”
 

“You said you didn’t think it was me.” My voice was becoming more agitated and worried by the syllable.

“No. I said I don’t know.” His hand reached for my face and directed my gaze toward him, “Why not, Nevaeh?”

“Why would Malach think it’s me? I haven’t done anything special or extraordinary.” Panic wrapped around my throat. I waited for him to come up with some flimsy reason based on nothing.
 

“He said you would know the reason. He wouldn’t tell me though.” His soulful green eyes stared down into mine, reaching for the answer I hadn’t voiced, yet.

The light clicked on in my head.
The warehouse
.

“I hardly think seeing demons and angels, or having funky visions makes me any more special than the next person.”
 

I wasn’t ready to tell him about Vinney’s. What if it changes how he feels about me? What if Layla was right and we are some sort of sisters—as much as I’m against the idea?

“Nevaeh, I don’t think that’s what he is talking about. Did something else happen?”
 

Ugh, he’s gonna make me do it. I’m going to have to tell him if I want to get more answers.
 

“Okay. Layla and some demons might have chased me through the warehouse,” I confessed, sheepishly.

Start small, good thinking.

“Layla?” His eyes widened in surprise. “What was she doing chasing you?”

“She’s with them. The Dark ones, I guess?” I don’t even know what the hell to call her. She isn’t a demon, but she definitely isn’t good.

“She was with the demons?” He looked at me intently, hints of denial in his eyes. “I mean…I know she can be a bitch, but I didn’t think she was with
them
.”

“Well, she is, and she wanted me to join them. When I said no, she got mad and sent the demons to chase me down.” I watched as his face harden, and his eyes narrowed. “She wants you, too. Didn’t you know?”

“Of course I knew she liked me. She was always very flirty with me. I just assumed she was a girl with a crush. I guess I couldn’t sense her because she had already chosen sides.” He turned his head away, looking out the window to hide his disappointment.

Even though he didn’t want to be with her, I hadn’t even considered that they were friends. This would change things for them now.

“I just feel like I should’ve done something. Maybe I could’ve swayed her back to our side. I could have saved her.” He gazed at the floor, still pondering over what I’d said. “I wonder how long she’s been Dark.”

“I don’t know, but she looked pretty decided to me. What could you have possibly done?”

“I can’t believe the past few years of her working for me…I just can’t believe that she’s been Dark the whole time.” Reluctant acceptance began to shadow over his eyes. “Usually, I sense the undecided ones. If I’d sensed her, I could’ve swayed her, maybe,” Gavyn shook his head in defeat. “I can’t believe she played me all this time. She was Dark, and I didn’t even know it. I’m such an idiot.” He leaned forward and raked his hands through his hair, then down his face.

I expected the disbelief and surprise in his voice, but he almost sounded as if he’d lost a lover, not a friend. I held my tongue and tried to rid my feelings of jealousy. It was too soon for that, and I had no idea what their history was before I came.
 

I changed the subject. “So, I’m not quite getting how this all works. You make the choice, then what?”

His attention finally focused back on me. “When God feels it’s time, you come into your gifts. Unfortunately, I think the initiation time’s relativity to tragic events happens in order to spark our faith, making us desperate enough to face our spirituality. Perhaps, our gifts develop from that desperation.” Gavyn hesitated for a moment.

“The free-will is the bitch of it though. One option is to do nothing with them, as I’ve said before, and accept the constant reminders and consequences. For example, if I had refused to hone my gifts and make a choice, then I could have hurt or killed a lot more people. My gift could have gotten even more out of control.” Sadness and guilt crossed his face, undoubtedly for the woman who died from his rage.
 

His features hardened, quickly. “You can choose Light and work among the angels, battling for the fall of evil. You’d think this would be the obvious choice, but the sacrifices in this life are sometimes too much. One sacrifice you’ve already made is an example of that. Those you love are constantly in danger. Evil will stop at nothing to persuade you to their side. They know that at any moment, all you have to do is utter the words, and you can renounce God. Many have been taken from their families in situations like what happened to George.”
 

Just the sound of his name made me long to hug him one more time.
 

“Too many people get caught in the crossfire.” Gavyn put a consoling hand on my shoulder. “Then there are the angels, which aren’t always pleasant to deal with. They fight for the same cause, but they don’t always see us as strong enough to help, or deserving of the gifts God gave us. This path is probably the most difficult to follow out of all the options, but the endgame is worth it.
 

“The other option—you can go into the Dark and fall under the control of Satan. Sometimes his power seems to offer more. It’s more appealing. Sometimes he can threaten you into feeling obligated to choose him to save another. Many have strayed from us this way. I believe this is the game he is playing with you.
 

“If you choose the Light, you can always change your mind. God respects your will to choose. But, as said in the story about The Clavis, Satan doesn’t give up so easily. From what I understand, once he is done with your gifts and you’ve worn out your welcome, you begin to evolve into demon forms. What form of demon, depends on your usefulness and sins.”