From Gods (3 page)

Recalling that night, she was almost certain his name was Doug, not Mason. Skylar began to wonder if she was out of her mind. Was this a mistaken identity? It couldn’t be. The voice, the face, the body, the same pull he held over her just by his presence…everything was the same. So why did he make her feel like an idiot?
What a disappointment
.

“See you tomorrow,” Nick waved to Skylar on his way out, chuckling as if he was in on a funny secret only he and his brother knew about.

Nick was built similarly to Mason, with nicely toned muscles in all the right places, but his hair was a lighter shade, and he was apparently a lot nicer. Though there was a slight resemblance, other than that, Skylar would have never guessed they were brothers.

Giving a fake smile to Nick, she turned to see Kayla practically running into her. She wore a huge grin, trying to contain her excitement, knowing there were customers around. “Oh my God! Your cop was gorgeous, but so was his brother. Did Mason ask you out? It seemed like you were having an intimate conversation.”

Skylar didn’t want to burst Kayla’s bubble. “No…I guess I was wrong. He’s not the cop.”

“Oh.”

Skylar wanted to say she felt as puzzled as the look Kayla had just given her, but she kept it to herself.

Kayla brushed it off. “Well…looks like we have dates tomorrow night.”

“You mean…
you
have a date tomorrow night. I don’t feel like going to a party with a bunch of strangers.”

“But, Nick asked both of us to come. Come on…please…just go this once and see what happens…for me…please.”

“You know how much I don’t like the water.”

“It will be dark so you won’t be able to see it, and plus you don’t have to swim. We don’t swim when we go to the beach together,” Kayla tried to reason.

“True….” Skylar pursed her lips. She could never say no to her cousin. They hardly spent time together, except during the summers and holidays, and those times were special to her. It wasn’t worth the argument. Maybe he wouldn’t be there, and if he was, she would just ignore him and give him the cold shoulder…like he’d just done to her.

“Yeah…I’ll go with ya.” She suddenly became excited to see him so she could give him a piece of her mind…perhaps even a piece of her fist, though she wasn’t a violent kind of gal.

“Whoo hoo!” Kayla shouted. “I’m so glad Mom made us work today.”

“Girls,” Mona scolded, gesturing to keep their voices down. Then she walked over to Kayla. “Too bad I can’t go with ya. Those boys were hot.”

“You couldn’t go even if you were young. You’d scare them.” Jack chuckled at his own joke.

“Watch it, Jack, or I’ll show you something to be scared of,” Mona retorted.

“What do you mean? You already did by looking at me.” Jack busted out with laughter.

More customers entered the diner, interrupting their teasing and joking.

Chapter 4

It was a beautiful Sunday morning. The cloudless sky was nothing but an endless turquoise blanket hovering over the Earth. Though the heat was unbearable, with the temperature reaching over a hundred, they decided to head to the local mall. Since Sunday was their official day off from work, they were ecstatic just to hang out.

When Skylar opened the main entrance door and stepped inside, the cool draft from the air conditioner blasted through her. The scorching sun had been beating on her so hard from the parking lot to the door, any cool air would have given her relief. Since it was noon, they decided to have lunch before a fun day filled with shopping.

At the food court, there were many places to choose from. The combined aromas of the variety of food confused Skylar as to which type of food she wanted to eat. Finally, she opted for Mexican food—two tacos, rice, and beans—and Kayla chose Chinese food. The two of them sat at the only empty table available in the back. Noting how crowded it was, Skylar guessed everyone had the same thought—go to the mall to escape the heat.

While taking a bite of her taco, Skylar looked around. She couldn’t help but steal a glance at a couple of guys sitting at a table nearby who kept looking her way. Unsure if they were looking at someone behind her, she turned, but there was nothing there but the wall. If they thought she was cute, that would be a compliment, but if they were looking for some other reason…well…she didn’t care to know anyhow. 

One of the guys had dirty blond, shoulder length hair, and his friend’s dark brown hair was sleeked back, exposing his forehead. They were both good-looking so she didn’t mind, but when they acted suspicious—whispering, glancing at her and then whispering again—it gave her the creeps, so she turned away. If only she could hear what they were saying.

“So…you sure Mason wasn’t the cop?” Kayla asked, taking a sip of her drink. “I mean…you were so positive he was.”

“I don’t know. It was dark. It doesn’t matter,” Skylar muttered, although she was almost positive that it was him. She tried to recall that night, but after Mason’s rude comment, the thoughts turned the hot cop into an ugly cop, and the excitement of seeing him again was no longer there.

“You’re okay with going to the beach tonight, right?” Kayla asked hesitantly. “Because…if you feel uncomfortable about it, especially being around people we don’t know, I don’t want you to do something on account of me. We can go see a movie instead, or just hang out at home.”

Skylar took a bite of some beans she had just scooped up with her fork, then she poured more salsa on them. Her mind was so preoccupied with Mason’s rude comment she only heard half of Kayla’s words.

“Skylar? Hey…Skylar?”

Skylar looked up, meeting Kayla’s gaze. “Oh…sorry. I was just thinking. No…I’m totally fine with it. We can go. I was hesitant at first because we don’t know them. But we’ll be out in the public, so I’m sure it’s fine.”

Kayla smiled, looking ecstatic. “Great. It should be fun. This is going to be one of the best summers ever.”

“Sure,” Skylar agreed, but something in the pit of her stomach told her otherwise. She brushed off the thought. She didn’t want negative thoughts to get in the way. Then out of curiosity, she sneakily turned her body and used her peripheral vision to check on the guys, but they were gone.  

After the girls ate, they headed to the nearest store. Upon entering, excitement rushed through Skylar from looking at all the clothes. Feeling carefree, she listened to the background music, skimmed through the racks, and picked out all types of clothing. So did Kayla.

With stacks of clothes draped over their arms, they headed to the dressing room together. The dressing room attendant gave them rooms across from each other. They had so much fun trying on different outfits that it was like having a personal mini-fashion show.

After spending about an hour in the store, they walked out with only one bag each. Skylar bought some shorts and T-shirts, and Kayla bought shorts and a light sweater. Then they headed to the next store. Tired from shopping, they decided to get some frozen yogurt.

Just before they entered the yogurt shop, Skylar noticed the same guys standing at a distance. The thought of possible stalkers gave her goose bumps. Surely, she was over reacting. They had the right to be there, after all. They were sitting at their lunch table first…they might have been standing near the yogurt shop first as well. Either way, their persistent staring made her uncomfortable, and she entered a shoe store just to get away.

After a full day of shopping, they went to the diner to grab some dinner.

***

As soon as Skylar entered the diner, she got a whiff of the delicious smell of something Jack was cooking and hunger pangs flooded through. All that shopping had worked up her appetite.

The girls waved to Kayla’s mom, Mona, Jack, and the weekend waitresses. Not wanting to interrupt them, they found a corner table and sat.

“What can I get you, ladies?” Mona beamed a smile. “Out of all the places you can eat, you came here on your day off? You girls must be desperate.” Mona snorted.

“It’s called free food,” Kayla laughed. “With all the stuff we bought today, I’m going to have to sacrifice my stomach.”

“You surely are sacrificing your stomach with Jack’s cooking,” Mona teased. “Last call.”

Skylar giggled. “We’re fine, Mona. I’d like to order Jack’s famous burger with french fries, crispy thin. Don’t forget the ketchup, please.”

“That sounds good. I’ll have the same…I think,” Kayla said, looking undecided. “I’m so hungry, I could eat everything off this menu.”

“Got it. I’ll put your order through…everything off the menu,” she winked, then became serious. Mona leaned over as if she was going to tell them a secret. “By the way, I haven’t seen the boys today.” Then she walked away.

Skylar had just stopped thinking about Mason, but after Mona’s words…well, she was now…again. He had already consumed her mind all day at the mall; she didn’t want the thought of him to linger any longer.

After ten minutes, Kayla’s mom brought dinner over and sat with the girls. “How do you like working here, Skylar?”

“I have to say, I was surprised how much I enjoyed it.”

“That’s because you’re with me,” Kayla butted in. “Imagine working here alone and no one our age to talk to. Let’s see what you’d say then.” She looked at her mom, taking a huge bite of her burger.

Ignoring her daughter, Kelly continued. “Let me know if you don’t like it. I’m not going to force you to work for me. Do you understand?”

“Sure, Auntie Kelly.” Skylar poured the ketchup on her plate and inside her burger.

“So…what are you girls doing after dinner?”

“I think we’re—” Skylar started to say with a mouthful of food.

Kayla kicked Skylar under the table. “We’re going home. We’re exhausted from shopping all day.”

“Really?” Kelly looked surprised. “If you do decide to go out, make sure to stick together and be back home before I am. Well….” Kelly stood up. “I’d better get back to work.”

“But you’re the boss,” Kayla pointed out.

“What kind of boss would I be if I didn’t set a good example…right?” She winked. “Remember that girls.”

With a nod from Skylar and a roll of the eyes from Kayla, Kelly greeted the new customer that had just walked in.

“Why did you kick me under the table?” Skylar huffed. “That hurt.”

“Sorry, but I didn’t want you to tell my mom.”

“Why?”

“She wouldn’t let us go.”

“How do you know? You didn’t ask.”

“Trust me. I know. And like she said, we just need to be back before she is. No need to tell her where we are going or whom we are going with.” After they finished their meal, they headed home to get ready for the beach party.

Chapter 5

“There it is.” Kayla pointed, focusing her eyes on the bonfire, which was blazing skyward, dancing with the colors of red and orange. Readjusting her bag, Kayla slung it over the other shoulder and walked side by side with Skylar along a path. Kayla was told to look for a bonfire, so a bonfire she’d found. 

Seeing Nick, Kayla waved happily. He grinned as he watched them approach, wearing only navy blue trunks. Holding a bottle of beer in his hand, he gave the girls each a light hug, then turned to his friends. “Hey everyone…this is Kayla and Skylar.”

Everyone waved without making eye contact, ignoring them, turning back to their own conversations. There were about ten of them. Skylar set her eyes on everyone when she greeted them, but she didn’t see Mason, or Doug, or whatever his real name was. Feeling disappointed and not knowing why, she settled on the ground when Kayla took out a beach towel and laid it on the sand.

The night temperature felt comfortable and the bonfire kept them warm, though it wasn’t cold. Nick went to the cooler and brought back a couple of opened bottles. “Here.” He handed one to Kayla.

“Thanks,” Kayla nodded, taking a sip. Skylar gave Kayla a long stare, a look she used when she was not happy with her cousin, and Kayla understood. “What? It’s okay,” Kayla whispered and smiled. “I’ve had one before.”

Then he gave one to Skylar.

“Umm…no thank you. I actually don’t like beer. But thank you anyway.” She tried to sound as polite as possible. She didn’t want to offend him, and she definitely didn’t want to tell him she’d never drank beer before.

“Oh…no problem. More for me then.” He chuckled and sat on the other side of Kayla.

As they sat there soaking in the perfect temperature, Skylar dug her feet into the sand. How she loved the feel of the cool, soft sand seeping between her toes. Oddly, like Nick had said, there was no one else on the beach besides his group. This made Skylar uncomfortable, but she brushed off the feeling since they weren’t the only females there.

With her arms extending behind her, she laid back, enjoying the music blasting from the iPad, but the sound of waves crashing on the shore took her in. It was somehow hypnotic, soothing. Turning her head toward it, she could see the moonbeams, flawlessly reflecting silver lights along the ocean, wrapping Skylar with the feeling of peace and comfort. Mesmerized by the view, she could gaze at it all night. Though she was tired from shopping all day, somehow being there awakened her, providing a new vibe of energy.

Unfortunately the peace was interrupted when Skylar turned her head toward the bonfire. The guy with the yellow trunks was gawking at her. His stare was unlike anything she had experienced before. Either he was undressing her with his eyes, or he wanted to hurt her, like a lion observing its prey, ready to attack.
Awkward!
  Slowly, she turned without making it obvious she was uncomfortable.

Skylar wondered if she had a sign on her forehead that read, “Please stare at me.” First there were the guys at the mall, and now this guy she’d just met.

As always, though Kayla didn’t know it, she came to Skylar’s rescue. Relaxing from Kayla’s voice, she honed in on her conversation with Nick. Kayla didn’t waste time, and was not afraid to speak her mind, especially when it came to Skylar’s interests. “Where’s Mason?”

“He’s around…somewhere.” 

“So…are they your friends?”

“The guy with the red trunks is my oldest brother. His name is Everett. And the guy with yellow trunks, my second oldest brother, is Remus. I’m the third one, and the guy that is missing, Mace…I mean Mason…is the youngest. Then the rest of the people are Everett’s friends.”

Remus was Mason’s brother?
Great! What luck!
Skylar was already off to a crappy start, but for what? It wasn’t like she was interested in hanging out with Mason anyway, and it didn’t matter what she thought about Remus or what Remus thought about her. But she didn’t like the way he continued to glare at her, as if he was expecting her to do something horrible or magically turn into an alien or something. She couldn’t begin to guess what his problem was. Then she looked at the girls. Their hands were all over the brothers. “Hmm…good friends I’m sure,” she mumbled.

Kayla nudged Skylar with her shoulder, gesturing for her to keep her thoughts to herself. “So…you have three brothers. Any sisters?”

“Nope.”

“Do you go to school?”

“Nope.”

“Oh…so do you work?”

“Kind of.”

“Then…do you do anything?” Kayla turned her head sideways in confusion.

“Nope. We inherited tons of money when our parents passed away, so we never have to work a day in our life. Well…kind of,” he explained imperturbably. “We own businesses.”

“Oh…I’m so sorry, but that must be nice...I guess.” Kayla nudged Skylar again when she rolled her eyes.

Strange and odd. Parents passed away? How? Funny, he didn’t mention Mason being a cop either. They kind of worked, but owned businesses…a huge red flag. They looked too young to own businesses. They were maybe in their early twenties. She guessed if they inherited the businesses, or had that much money to buy them, then that would be a different story.

As horrid thoughts circulated through her mind, Skylar decided it was best to tune out their conversation. Speaking of parents, Skylar’s thoughts returned to her dad. He had left them when she was only eight years old, and she had never heard from him since. He might as well be dead to her.

What kind of dad would leave his family unless he didn’t care at all? It was difficult on Father’s Day, his birthday, Christmas, and other holidays, but slowly she had gotten used to the idea she didn’t have a father. Though she tried to hang on to the happy memories of him, the older she got, the less the memories stayed with her. Then there was Kayla’s dad, who had left her mom for a younger woman.

“Do you go to school?” Nick asked, changing the subject.

“We just graduated from high school. We’re both eighteen,” Kayla said, emphasizing her age.

“Cool,” Nick said, looking out into the ocean. His eyes dazzled in the moonlight. “Would you like to take a swim?”

“Sure.” Kayla looked at Skylar, gesturing for her to come along.

Offering his hand like a gentleman, Kayla took it. With Kayla’s other hand, she pulled Skylar and dragged her along. Though Skylar protested somewhat at first, she wanted to make sure Kayla was safe…not only that, she didn’t want to be left there with Remus. After all, they didn’t know these people, and for some strange reason, she didn’t think she could trust them.

She sensed danger, but didn’t know why. Perhaps it was all the horrific stories she’d heard on the news. Or perhaps it was the way Nick didn’t seem sad about his parents’ deaths. Even more so, she didn’t like the way Remus looked at her. Whatever the reason, she was going to keep her eyes wide open.

Looking out into the calm, dark water, Kayla dropped her bag, and as her eyes followed, Nick dove into the ocean first. Wiggling out of her top and shorts, the fabric from Kayla’s white bikini made her glow in the darkness.

“Can you get any brighter?” Skylar teased.

“So you can see me better, my dear, said the wolf to Little Red Riding Hood,” Kayla giggled.

Laughing at her remark, Skylar shook her head. “I’ll be here, dunking my feet. You know I don’t like going in the water.”

“Okay, be careful. I’ll be back real soon.”

“Ya, right.”

Though Skylar felt like a third wheel, she wanted to stay close, for Kayla’s sake. Watching them go further in, Skylar took off her clothes, revealing a one-piece black suit. Gazing to the right, she saw a pier, and did a double take when she thought she saw someone standing there. She brushed it off when there was no sign of anyone.

She was never fond of the ocean; the grandness and the strength of it frightened her. But as long as she didn’t go in higher than her knees, she knew she would be fine. Coldness stung through her legs at first when she dipped her feet in, but then she got used it. The temperature grew on her, making it comfortable. Bored to be doing nothing, she dug her feet into the sand, and somehow, it gave her a sense of serenity.

Checking on Kayla, she looked into the distance. Seeing their bodies pressed together under the moonlight looked romantic, so she focused her eyes back to her feet, not wanting to intrude on their intimate moment. Watching them make out was not her idea of fun, so she headed toward the pier. Skylar respected her cousin, but she couldn’t understand how she could kiss someone she’d just met.

Thoughts of her ex began to rush through her head. It had been several months since they’d broken up, but the pain lingered when she thought about what he’d done. They were together for almost a year, and after she gave her heart to him, he’d cheated on her.

Skylar swore she would be cautious with future relationships, and here she was thinking about the cop, or whoever he was. Why did he have this effect on her? She didn’t even know him at all. It’s pure lust, she thought. If he was there, she would kiss him, just to do something crazy, something she would never normally do. Maybe that was what her cousin was doing; something she just felt like doing. It wasn’t anything bad after all.

Something shimmering like crystal caught Skylar’s attention, changing in color from lavender, to pink, to gold underneath the water. Curiosity got the best of her and she inched her way toward it, up to her knees in the water. As if she was spellbound, her whole being was sucked into the colorful tunnel of lights, and she couldn’t peel her eyes from it. The glittering light was calling out to her. She was hypnotized by its exquisiteness, unaware she was drifting further in.

When the water was up to her chest, she snapped out of it. Realizing how deep she had gone in, she panicked. How was it possible she had drifted this far? Ever since the incident when she’d almost drowned at the beach, she swore she would never go in this deep. Though she couldn’t recall the full details, she could recall enough, as if they were etched in her memory bank. She had been eight years old, and the incident happened just before her father left the family.

Heaving, she felt like she was having a heart attack as it painfully hammered a mile a minute. Her muscles tensed up so tightly from fright that she couldn’t move or breathe. It was dark, and Kayla was too far away to hear her cry for help. After telling to herself to calm down, she turned in the direction she should go, back toward the land. After taking several long breaths, she moved forward, dragging her weight through the water and fighting the mild current.

Suddenly, she felt something wrap around her ankle, but she didn’t think much of it. After all, it was just seaweed or some kind of sea plant. She reached down to pull it off her.

Underwater though, whatever it was latched on around her wrist. With a yank, it flipped her and submerged her as her body turned with the wave. Desperately she wiggled, pulled, tugged, and fought with all her might, but she could’t set herself free. Mangaing to pop out of the water, she inhaled air with a loud extended gasp, only to get sucked back in again. Whatever this thing was, it coiled around most of her upper torso, and she couldn’t move her arms. With no air left and out of breath, she blew bubbles. Unable to escape the thing that held her captive, she had no choice but to accept death.

Skylar couldn’t believe she was going to die. It wasn’t fair. She was too young. Her life had just begun. Thoughts of her mother, her aunt, and Kayla—who would blame herself—flashed through her mind. Though she hardly ever prayed, now was the time to do it.
Please God…take my soul. Please forgive my sins, whatever they may be, and take me to heaven
.

Skylar’s eyes were already closed, but she could see a light, growing brighter by the second. Thinking it was an angel’s light, she calmed herself into a state of tranquility. As her body became light as a feather, she drifted into unconsciousness, hoping she was floating to heaven.