Angels of Moirai (Book One) (12 page)

“Mmmm. What about the lightning when we were at dance class, it came out of nowhere.”

“That,” he said, “I can explain. I told you we can manipulate the elements. Well, that was Mark sending out a warning to keep my distance from you.”

“He couldn’t just come and tell you?”

James shrugged his shoulders, “Mark likes to keep things interesting. It also wasn’t just a warning from him, it was a warning that The Creator was watching.”

“Oh.”

“Yes, oh.”

I didn’t ask any more questions after that. I was starting to think it was better that I just didn’t know the answer to everything.

I felt his hand wrap over my hand that had been nervously tapping the middle console.

“We’re nearly there,” James tried to reassure me.

“Where is that exactly?”

“I told you, it is a surprise.”

I huffed, “I don’t like surprises.”

“Be that as that may, I’m still not revealing any more information to you.”

I stifled a laugh. “Be that as that may? You really are old.”

He squeezed my hand. “Would you prefer I acted like the boys your age?”

“God no!”

“Well then, Miss Kingston, no complaining.”

I smiled and looked out the window. “Believe me, I wasn’t complaining,” I said quietly.

James pulled the car up at the edge of a national park. We both got out of the car and I followed James as we took one of the walking tracks. He held my hand tightly as we moved through the forest, helping me only when the track became uneasy.

“You know, I would have worn walking shoes instead of sandals if I thought we were going for a hike.”

“It isn’t a hike,” James chuckled.

“Maybe not for you. You do remember I’m merely a human being and not an angel?”

“All the time, but I’ve got you, so you won’t fall. Would you like me to carry you?”

“No, I’m not that useless,” I laughed.

I continued to trek, or should I say stumble through the forest until we reached its edge. I could already smell the sweet sea air before I even stepped out onto the rocky edge of the cliff.

“I’ve heard about this place,” I said, looking out at the endless ocean ahead.

James smiled and guided me towards the edge. I hesitated, but he pulled me closer towards him. “Trust me.”

I cautiously stepped forward until we were right on the edge.  The wind swept through my hair as I looked down. The drop was easily over a thousand feet, and I was scared out of my mind.

“Did I mention that I’m not really good with heights,” I said clawing my hands into James’s body for safety.

“I want to show you something.”

I looked up at him. “This isn’t it? There’s more?”

“Well,” he said smiling, “it involves jumping off this cliff.”

“Are you crazy? We will die, James!”

“You keep forgetting. I’m angel, Lila. Give me more credit than that.”

“But what-” I flustered. “What. Jump? Where?”

James lifted his hand and touched my cheek. “I won’t let anything happen to you,” he whispered, leaning in and kissing my lips tenderly.

The warmth of his lips steadied me, and I relaxed in his embrace.

When he pulled his mouth from mine, he looked down at me, waiting for my seal of approval.

I nodded my head, knowing I could trust him.

He moved my body so my back was against his chest. He wrapped his hands gently around my waist. I rested my head on his chest, taking in each rise and fall of his breath.

“On the count of three,” he whispered in my ear.

“Oh God.”

“One, two-” but we didn’t get to three. He’d launched our bodies off the side of the cliff and I screamed. I screamed bloody murder.

“James!” I screamed as we dove headfirst down the steep cliff face and for a second, I thought for sure we weren’t going to survive, for we continued to fall, the rough waters below welcoming us with open arms. Just as we were about to hit the rocks, I clenched my eyes shut, feeling the sea spray hit my face. I felt the air rush underneath me as our bodies soared upwards. I opened my eyes and saw what could only be described as something magical. When I was a kid, I imagined what it would be like if I was a bird, at the pure joy and freedom as you glided through the skies. I was now getting to experience that. How I felt because of that was one word: breath taking.

I looked over my shoulder at James. His wings stretched out in all their grandeur, moving with such grace and ease.

I looked at James, a broad smile across my face. “This is amazing!” I squealed, looking back as he manoeuvred us down so I was able to reach my fingertips out and skim the water’s edge. I laughed in complete joy. We climbed the skies until there was nothing but James and me. I rested my body against his and took it all in. Every last second.

***

“You can stay here again, James. I don’t mind,” I said standing at the front door of my house.

I didn’t want the day to end. Today had been perfect. I didn’t think anything could top James taking me flying. Flying! I had to pinch myself every time I thought about it.

“I know, Lila, but there are things I need to attend to. I’ll see you at school tomorrow, okay?”

“Okay,” I said reluctantly.

James leaned forward and kissed my forehead.

I said goodbye and as soon as I opened the door to walk inside, Hayley was by my side.

“So!” she said excitedly. “Shall I get the popcorn ready?”

“Popcorn? Oh,” I said remembering. “Sunday arvo movies.”

“Yes, that, and the fact you’re going to tell me everything about you and James! I’ve barely been able to think straight since this morning!”

I laughed. “Fine. Get the popcorn and I’ll get the movie ready.”

I was true to my word as I spent the afternoon telling Hayley about James, leaving out minor details like the fact that he was an angel, and that we didn’t just look at the cliff, but in fact, jumped off it.

It was nice to talk to someone about James, even if I couldn’t speak the whole truth. It felt good to share in my happiness.

“So, do you love him?” Hayley prompted.

I couldn’t help the smile that formed on my lips. “Maybe…”

“That so means yes!”

I shrugged my shoulders and looked back at the TV, smiling to myself. Life was pretty great.

***

I was tempted more than once that night to go out on the balcony and call out for James, but then I convinced myself I was acting like a fool and he might not even respond to that anyway, so I reluctantly refrained from doing anything.

I couldn’t get ready fast enough for school and as I drove Hayley and myself to school, I was feeling more and more like a love sick puppy.

Get hold of yourself
,
Lila,
I told myself, but I didn’t think I could. I was completely infatuated with James.

I said goodbye to Hayley, as she continued to make sly remarks about James. I’d give it by the end of the day before the whole school knew James was at our house.

I picked my textbooks up from the backseat of the car and set off to find my locker before first period, but as I walked along the school path, it dawned on me how strange this all now was.

I watched the way people interacted with each other; their smiles on broad display for all, and I couldn’t help but think how life was nothing like I thought it was. I lived a normal, simple life, and now… now, I had no idea what life was.

“I heard a little rumour about you.”

I spun around from my locker to see Jackie smiling at me.

Hayley really did work the gossip mill fast. I quickly replied, “I was going to tell you, Jackie, but it all just kind of happened with James…”

“James?” Jackie said stunned.

I shook my head, confused. “Isn’t that what you’re talking about?”

“Um, no, but that’s a story I’d like to hear!” She laughed. “The rumour I heard was that Dale is going to ask you to the formal.”

I was silent. “The formal?” I rubbed my temple.

“Please tell me you didn’t forget about the fact our grade twelve formal is this Saturday?” When I didn’t reply, she continued, “Oh, my God, Lila. You did!”

“I didn’t mean it! I’ve been busy with exams and…” I said in my defence, shutting my locker door in the process.

“And James apparently,” she mused at me, winking in her devilish ways.

I shook my head and laughed as we started towards our first class, Science. “Why would Dale be going with me anyway? Wasn’t he going with what’s-her-face?”

“Clara?”

I nodded.

“Apparently, he changed his mind. She’s not too happy about it either.”

“No doubt.”

Our conversation was cut short when we arrived to find a note on the classroom door that our science class was cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances.

“I heard Mr Peters is getting the sack,” I heard someone comment as we all stood in front of the note on the door, curious as to why class would be cancelled on such short notice, or even at all. Mr Peters never even took sick days, let alone cancel a class.

“I heard that Maddison’s parents put in a formal complaint about him. They want him fired,” another student commented.

Typical
, I thought to myself. The moment Maddison is put in her place she tries to get payback by getting him fired.

I felt terrible for Mr Peters and hoped his sticking up for us hadn’t cost him his career.

“Maddison and her twisted ways,” Jackie said under her breath.

I nodded in agreement.

“Looks like you’re now going to be an extra in the BCT class and I’m off to geography,” Jackie said, reading aloud what the list said.

Instead of giving us a spare class or a substitute teacher, they had assigned us to temporary classes, so we continued with the work we needed to do. There were two grade twelve classes for BCT, Business Communications and Technology, and Geography, so that’s where Jackie and I would be heading to sit in on.

As the classes were in the same direction, we both walked together.

I still couldn’t get over that Mr Peters was not at class. I didn’t want to presume the worst, but when it came to Maddison and her vendettas, anything was possible.

“Well…?”

I raised my eyebrows at Jackie and responded, “Well…?”

“What are you going to say? To Dale, I mean?”

I sighed, “No, definitely no. I don’t even know if I’m going to the formal.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Lila. It’s our formal. You’re going.”

I replied laughing, “With Dale then? Or with my imaginary partner?”

“No, with me,” I heard a deep voice say behind me.

Jackie’s eyes widened and I turned to see James.

“Well, Lila, would you do me the honour in accompanying me to the school formal?” James asked.

“I…”

Jackie nudged my ribs.

A smiled crept up onto my lips and I nodded softly. “Yes. I would love to.”

“Well, it’s settled then!” Jackie said excitedly. “I’ve gotta run, Lila, but talk soon?”

I smiled as she winked at me once again and walked off to class quickly.

“Well, that would have been awkward if you had said no.”

“I thought about it,” I joked.

“Obviously!”

He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and hugged me.

I closed my eyes against him. “Do we have to?”

“Have to do what?” he replied.

“This. School. It all seems so insignificant now… with everything that’s happened.”

He pulled away from me and looked down into my eyes. “You were never meant to know about me. You knowing has altered your fate, although I don’t know how exactly, I need you to continue to do what you were doing before you found out about me, okay, Lila? It’s important that you do that.”

I hadn’t thought about the implications of James’s secrets and what they might have on not only my fate, but others. What if somehow me knowing had changed someone’s destiny? That somehow it had impacted on them.

As if James was reading my mind, he said reassuringly, “Don’t think about it too much, Lila. You’ll only worry yourself more. These things are better when you don’t overthink it. Life will play out the way it should.”

I nodded my head, but couldn’t shake the feeling that my actions now had a ripple on affect in the world, and somehow, I’d changed someone else’s fate… someone else’s destiny.

We both reached our Business, Communications and Technology class just as the bell rang to indicate that our first lesson was to begin. I paused, however, as I reached the front door and twenty sets of eyes were on us, many of which didn’t look impressed.

James rested his hand on my lower back, gently pushing me forward. I hesitated, but when Mr Colston stared impatiently at us, I willed myself to walk inside.