Revelation (14 page)

Pleased he isn’t
there, I pull it the remainder of the way open and head toward the bed. The sheets are soft on my tired body as I allow my exhaustion to take over and I slip into a deep sleep.

***

With reluctance, my eyes flutter open. This is the first night in a long time I didn’t have a dream. The sunlight filters through the drapes, blanketing the guest room in natural light, bringing to life the warm taupe and soft blue colors that make this room elegant but comfortable.

I sit up and stretch just as my stomach growls
, having gotten a whiff of bacon coming from somewhere in the house. After I head to the bathroom to freshen up, I bounce downstairs, stopping on the bottom step when I hear Keegan and Asher’s worried voices.

“You’re certain she doesn’t suspect anything?”
Keegan questions.

“I’m positive
. She’s just accepted we’re her protectors at face value,” Asher confirms.

“Good
. It should be kept that way, at least for now,” Keegan states.

Asher sighs. “I agree but I don’t like lying to her. It doesn’t feel right and I need her
complete confidence.”

“You have her
full trust and it’s important she’s kept in the dark for now. We’re still not certain as to what Gage wants with her or what his connection is to Deacon. If this information comes to light, if she finds out, she could be in even more danger than she already is,” Keegan asserts.

“I realize that
, Keegan,” Asher replies out of clenched teeth.

“One thing we do know,
the Declan clan has moved into this territory but we’re not sure why. The rest of the family will continue to investigate and inquire with our contacts. In the meantime, we need to keep Eve focused on her ascension and her training,” Keegan orders.

I move slightly off the stairs and see Asher running his hands over his face and
into his hair. I’m just about to barge over and demand they tell me what’s going on when Keegan’s concern-laced voice vibrates through me.

“You are focused on her protection, correct?”
he asks with a curious tone.

Asher stiffens,
his face filled with rage. “Do you have something to ask me, brother?”

Keegan sighs. “Kenna seems to think your bond with Eve is more than just a protector to his charge. I’m j
ust offering a cordial reminder that you took an oath with both The Angelic Council as well as The Spiritual Assembly of Protectors.”

Asher’s face goes angry. “I have not failed to remember my oath, especially when everyone in this clan reminds me daily,” he spits out.

Keegan stands taller, narrowing his eyes. “Do not forget what we stand for and who we are bound to protect as a clan. I will not allow you to turn your back on centuries of loyalty and protection for a human girl. Not even her.” He lets out an exhausted breath. “Not to mention, Michael would bring the wrath of The Angelic Council upon this family and we would be facing dire consequences for your actions with The Royal Council, of which, might I remind you, you’re a key member.”

Asher’s anger is radiating of
f him. “I DO NOT FORGET MY CALLING OR WHO OR WHAT I AM, BROTHER,” he whisper yells. “I have not disregarded that Eve is a charge or my oath to safeguard her.” He exhales heatedly. “I would give my life for her in a heartbeat.”

Keegan just stares at Asher pensively. “It’s the
why
of giving your life that concerns me, not if you would or wouldn’t. I trust you to do the right thing, Asher.” Keegan walks away from a fuming Asher. He is pacing and rubbing the back of his neck in agitation.

I take in a small breath, unsure of what the conversation was about. I can gather that Asher still has a few more secrets I won’t be privy to anytime soon. Plastering on a fake smile, I walk down the last step just as he looks up and locks eyes with me.

I smile but it’s timid. “Good morning. I was just hoping to grab some coffee before heading to campus.”

He watches me before
blowing out a heavy sigh. “I’ll take you to the kitchen then Abby will bring you back to the dorms.”

My eyebrows pull together. “You’re not going to take me yourself?”

Asher shakes his head. “No. I have business to attend to before class.”

I look away from him
. “Okay. Coffee it is then. Thanks.”

“Eve,” Asher says quietly but inside I feel like he shouted at me.

“I get it. You don’t have to explain. You took an oath.” I offer a sad smile and walk to him, placing my left hand on his chest, avoiding the tattoo. His face is pained.  “What I don’t understand is what else you’re hiding from me.”

I stare into his eyes as he shuts them
in a tight squeeze. “Don’t,” it comes out as a whisper from his lips.

I frown and give him a small shr
ug. “There’s no darkness there and if there were, it’s only in your mind, Asher.” Then I walk toward the kitchen, leaving him in the foyer like a stone statue.

12
Messages

It’s been a week since Michael’s visit.
My aunt and I have barely spoken since the archangel encounter. I’ve decided not to bring up my newfound knowledge regarding my parents and her not being blood related, so during our weekly phone conversation, I told her I was working on a big project and would call her when I was finished. She agreed as long as I promised to keep up my Krav Maga classes. Thank goodness she doesn’t know how to text or email ‘because technology scares her.’

Abby and McKenna have been
walking on eggshells around me, providing me the space I need to think. Asher keeps his distance too. We’ve fallen back to our respective charge and protector relationship. Though I feel him burn holes into the side of my head during class, I’ve just been ignoring it and usually leave before he can talk to me.

After the first twenty times ask
ing me what was wrong, Aria finally got the hint and stopped asking. She just chalked it up to ‘boy problems’ with Asher. That or she thinks I’m just mental. Either way, she’s stopped pushing the subject.

So here I sit, on my favorite bench in
the quad, skipping my architecture class, watching a group of ordinary human guys play football. I’m surrounded by everyday college kids who aren’t weapons in the battle between Heaven and Hell and aren’t being hunted by demonic legions, and they certainly aren’t attracted to their protector who was hired by an archangel who keeps everything a secret.
How did life get so complicated?

“Eve Collins
, don’t you have a class or something, love?” Gage sits down next to me, handing me a warm café mocha.

“How’
d you know I would be here?” I inquire, still focused on the game.

Gage
pushes the coffee toward me, nonverbally telling me to take it. I do but not before I roll my eyes. He smiles at the gesture.

“Thanks,” I mutter.

He reclines on the bench next to me. “Well, a little birdie told me someone on this campus recently had a visit from a very prestigious archangel.” He glances to me then back to the game. “Since this is where I saw you that first day, I figured I would find you here, perhaps, contemplating everything.” He explains in a casual manner.

I swallow the hot coffee, hard. “I think they might have laced your drink with something other than soymilk,” I joke
, pointing to his latte.

Gage
gives a wicked smirk while his face is focused on the football players. We sit in comfortable silence for a while. The enigmatic guy is dressed in black again, similar to the first day I saw him. He puts his coffee on the ground and lights a cigarette. The smell mixes with his spicy scent.

“It’s an amazing thing
, you know,” he speaks, blowing out the smoke. “Mankind has the ability to be human and have free will. Wars are fought over such things and yet every one of these college students has no idea how lucky they are to be able to decide something as humdrum as whether they will be shirts or skins.”

I continue to watch the game, remaining quiet.
My face is impassible, not giving anything away considering the conversation I overheard regarding Gage. My trust in him is wary.

“Decisions are usually based on having all the f
acts. Do you have all the facts, love?” He turns and stares intently at me, cigarette hanging out of his mouth and reminding me of James Dean.

I slide my eyes over to him, turning my head
at a slow pace. “Let me guess. You’re planning to give me all the facts?”

He shakes his head from side to side
. “No, but you might want to ask Asher and the St. Michaels what all the truths are before blindly trusting your well being to them.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means those who we care for, who hide things from us, take away our free will to decide what our destiny should be.” He stands, putting out his cigarette.

Gage turns
, looking straight at me. “At some point, Eve, you’ll have to decide, shirts or skins. Make sure you have the whole story before you make that decision.” The smile on his face is sad. He nods his head to the direction of the art building. “Your protector’s on his way, sensing my presence, so this will have to be goodbye, for now.”

I watch him walk back to his car
. As he gets in, he winks. Asher appears to my right, body stiff and face callous.

“What did he want?”
his voice severe.

At the sharpness in his tone, I look up
. “Nothing. He just wanted to know if I was picking skins or shirts.” I point to the football game.

“And?”
Asher says, glancing at the game then returning his indigo eyes to me.

“And what?”

“Shirts or skins?”

I get the feeling we’re not just discussing the game anymore.
“I haven’t decided yet,” I say, my voice quiet.

Asher’s shoulders fall
in defeat as he joins me on the bench. I keep my head forward, focused on the game in front of me.

He snatches my coffee and takes a sip. I
give him the death glare.

“Help
yourself,” I say with sarcasm.

“I did.” He smirks
.

“I see that.”

“You weren’t in class.”

“No. Haven’t you heard the end of days is near? Not sure what I
’ll need with architecture when that happens,” I say in a mocking tone.

“
It’s not all bad. I realize right now things seem off, but it’s going to be okay. You know that, right?” he asks, his voice full of hope.

“Well
, I guess one good thing has come out of this. My nightmare with Nero has stopped,” I say with flatness.

“The Belker was killed in your last dream,” he replies as
if I should know that and he’s simply reminding me.

“What?” I turn toward him.

“I said the Belker was killed in the most recent nightmare but not in the ones before. That’s why you haven’t had the dream again. He’s no longer a threat.” It comes out with an air of arrogance.

Trying to pick my jaw up from the ground
, I ask, “How do you know he was killed? I never told you guys that. Just that my savior swung a sword at him.”

“A Belker can only be destroyed, as many of the evil spirits that protect Lucifer and the Gates of Hell
, with an Angel Sword, which I have. Mine is black granite.” His gaze shifts from the game to me, locking on my now wide eyes.

I feel like the wind was just knocked out of me, again. “You were the rescuer in my dream?” I
question in a shaky voice.

He watches me
with diligence. “Yes. I vowed to protect you, always. It’s the reason I’m here.” He stands up and walks away.

I’m left
sitting on the bench, baffled and annoyed that, once again, I’m caught up in the middle of this crazy journey to which he is the gatekeeper of answers and refuses to tell me.

***

I obsess about what Asher said to me.
How the hell did he get into my dream? Did he actually kill a demon there?
Aria walks into the dorm room and I’m pacing like a lunatic.

She eyes me
with caution. “What’s going on?” Her tone holds a hint of nervousness at my erratic behavior.

I
chew the inside of my cheek, hands clenching and unclenching at my sides. I need answers and I need them from someone who is sane and normal. I decide Aria’s that person, so the rapid question and answer period begins.

“Do you think it’s possible for a
person to be injected with another person’s blood so they can be linked to that person in order to protect them?”

“Is this question rhetorical or literal?”
Aria places her pink bag on her desk.

“Literal.”

“Then no.” Her head is shaking for good measure as she plops on her bed.

“Rhetorical?”

“Still a resounding no. Is this about Asher?”

I ignore her question. “Do you think
someone can physically enter someone else’s dream?”

“Eve
, what’s—” I cut her off with another question before she can finish hers.

“Do you think a human could kill
a demon in a dream?” I stop pacing and stare at her.

Aria
sighs in defeat. “Presuming demons exist, then no, I do not believe a human can kill a demon. Do you want to tell me what’s going on?”

I continue to pay no attention to her questions. “Do you think a human’s eyes can glow?”

“No.”

“What kind of human is fast
and can sense another person?”

“I don’t know
. I give up.” She watches me with suspicion.

“Me either, but I’m going to find out. I need
to borrow your car or for you to drive me to Asher’s house, right now.” I wait for her to answer as she just studies me. “Please, Aria? McKenna and Abby already left to head over there.”

Standing up, she grabs her car keys.
“After your last chip and dip run, I don’t trust you. I’ll drive on the condition you tell me what’s going on.”

I nod my head in agreement.

Aria keeps giving me sideways glances as we drive her Volkswagen Bug out of the Kingsley College area and into the town where Asher lives.

“Eve
, you promised you would tell me. What the fuck is going on? Why are you playing twenty questions with me about demons and dreams?”

I turn to her. “I don’t think you really want to know
, Aria. Once I tell you, I can’t untell you and when you know, it can’t be taken back. I’m not quite sure what the consequences are of enlightening you. There are all these rules and I’m not quite up to speed on them yet.”

She drives
, focused on the windshield. “Well, that’s not suspicious or anything.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t mean this to sound the way it’s going to, but I’m not sure I can trust you with t
his just yet,” I say.

She snorts. “You’re going to have to trust me
. I’m the closest friend you have at the moment. Are you in some sort of trouble?”

I shake my head then bite
the inside of my cheek in contemplation. “I think Asher might not be human.”

Aria is quiet. “No
shit.” That’s all. Her reaction is the same as if I told her I don’t like cupcakes.

I watch her, waiting for something, anything. “That’s it
? Just, no shit.”

“Well
, Eve, you were asking some really odd questions earlier. Can he dream walk, can he kill demons in dreams, glowing eyes, blood connection. Oh my god! Is he a vampire?” It comes out more like a shriek than a question.

I look out the
passenger window. “No, I don’t think so, but he’s definitely not human.”

She pauses
. “Well, let’s go find out what he is,” she declares, pressing down on the gas.

We get to Asher’s house in less time than it
took before, thanks to Aria’s lead foot. The entire ride, I watched the landscaping, trying to figure out what Asher could be if he isn’t an angel and he certainly isn’t human.

She pulls up to the keypad at the entr
ance. Looking at me expectedly, as if I have the number, I look back at her, my expression conveying I don’t.

“Well, what do you suppose we do?” she asks.

“I have an idea.” I pull out my cell phone and text Callan that I’m at the gate and need to see them urgently.

I don’t have to wait long
. The code is texted to me with a bypass code for the thumbprint. Once I punch it in, Aria drives up the cobblestone driveway.

“Holy shit
! This is where he lives?” she asks in astonishment.

“
Yep.” I direct her to park in front of the house. Right as she shuts off the engine, I jump out of the car.

Aria
is right on my heels. “So are you going to knock or just—” I just walk right in, cutting off her question.

“ASHER,” I shout.

Aria just looks around in awe while I storm through the house like a bat out of Hell.

“ASHER,” I shout again.

Callan comes out of the family room, looking shocked. “Eves, what’s wrong? Is everything okay?” His face is marred in concern and his voice is quiet.

I stop in my tracks. “Where is he?”

Aria walks up behind me.

“Eves, maybe
—” Callan begins but Aria gets up in his face, stopping him before he can finish his sentence.

If I weren’t so focused on getting to Asher, it would be comical that all five feet of Aria is threatening Callan’s six-foot frame and poking her finger in his chest.

“Listen, you big goliath, where is Asher? And don’t even think about lying cause I will go all ape shit on your ass if you do.”  Bully Aria is actually shocking to both Callan and I as we both stand there gaping.