Beautifully Unnatural: A Young Adult Paranormal Boxed Set (115 page)

Sammy stared at her like she’d just sprouted another head then laughed so hard she fell back onto the floor.

“It’s not funny.”

“Yes, it is. You’re scared of heights and you’re dating an angel. That’s epic.”

****

Alexander sat at the dining table hunched over his oatmeal and toast, the smell of cinnamon and sugar for once unappetizing. He could sense Grace watching every move he made and tried to appear less miserable than he felt.

“Good morning, everyone.” Sammy bounced into the room full of her usual enthusiasm.

“Good morning, Sam.” He attempted to sound chipper but he knew he failed miserably.

“Alex, guess what? I’m going to help Gabby overcome her fear of heights. You want to help?”

“Fear of heights?” Grace sounded amused.

“It’s not funny,” he growled.

“I didn’t say it was, Son.”

“So?” Sammy prompted. “Will you come help?”

“Did Gabby ask me to?” He knew his voice sounded hopeful, but he didn’t care.

“Well, no, but I’m sure—”

“No.” Alexander pushed back from the table and cleared his plate of half-eaten food. He was crazy to think she’d ever want to see him again.

“Oh, come on, Alex. It’ll be fun.”

“I said no.”

Sammy frowned at him for a moment then turned on her heel and sauntered out the front door.

He didn’t mean to snap at her, she was just trying to help. But he couldn’t face Gabby, not after she’d seen him looking like a possessed monster. No, she would never look at him the same way again. Why couldn’t he appear more like Sammy’s angel form? More angelic and bright, with glowing pale pink eyes?

Curiosity got the better of him and an hour later, he lingered at a distance, watching Sammy try to help Gabby overcome her fear. Patronus raced around them, barking and chasing seagulls that would occasionally land on the beach. At first, Gabby stood on Sammy’s back, like they were performing a cheerleading move. After that, Sammy had her climb a tree.

Alexander moved in closer as Sammy spread her wings and floated a few feet off the ground, holding Gabby in her arms.

Why was she doing this to herself? Did cheerleading mean that much to her?

When they had risen eight feet off the ground, Gabby grasped her chest as if she were having a heart attack. He wanted to scream out that she’d had enough and cheerleading wasn’t worth torturing herself, but he couldn’t face her. He paced around while Gabby collapsed on the sand and stroked Patronus.

Images flashed into his head from the day before, of her sitting on the ground shaking, her eyes wide in horror as she looked at his wings and red eyes. He cringed and sunk into the shadow of a tree.

A few minutes passed and it appeared they were going to try again. He held his breath and dug his fingers into the trunk, sending bits of bark floating to the ground, while he was forced to watch them rise higher into the air. It was obvious Gabby couldn’t handle it.

At twenty feet up, she screamed and cried out. He took a step, his wings extending, ready to fly, but held himself back. How much was Sammy going to torture her?

When Sammy had her fifty feet up in the air, Gabby nodded at Sammy. They floated for a few seconds until Sammy looked straight at him, then released Gabby. Her body flailed as she plummeted toward the ground. He bolted into the air, his wings bursting out, catching her only a few feet before her body slammed against rocks and tree limbs.

She clung to him, whimpering as he flew across the trees to the center of the beach near their home. He touched down and cradled her for a moment, her scent making him feel like he could float, without so much as a flap of his wings.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I won’t bother you again. I promise.”

“No, don’t.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close.

He wanted to hold her, wrap wings around her and never let her go. But he couldn’t bear the thought of her rejecting him again. How could she ever want to be with such a freak?

She loosened her grip on his neck and his wings fluttered as he tried to fly away.

“Look at me.” Her voice sounded tender and loving, but he couldn’t bring himself to comply, afraid he’d see the disgust, or worse, pity in her eyes.

Her hands caressed his face. “Please? Look at me.”

He glanced down, his eyes meeting hers.

“Thank you.” Gabby leaned in and kissed his cheek. A spark of fire flickered inside him.

“For what?” Alexander asked, but didn’t give her the opportunity to answer. He spotted Sammy walking toward them and pulled away, dumping Gabby onto the sand. “What were you thinking?” he yelled. “She could have died!”

“Alex, wait. I came up with the plan.” Gabby protested, but he ignored her and marched up to Sammy, ready for an argument, but she stood there with a devious grin on her face. “What are you grinning at? You could have killed her.”

“Because you, dear brother, would never have talked to Gabby again otherwise.”

Blast his meddling sister. “It doesn’t matter what I want. I disgust her.” He looked away in shame. “She couldn’t possibly want me, not after…”

“That’s where you’re wrong. You’re all she’s talked about since I met her. Alex this, Alex that. Frankly, I’m sick of hearing your name.” She rolled her eyes in mock annoyance.

“She only talked about me because I’m some sort of side show freak.”

Gabby came up behind him, clearing her throat.

Startled, he stepped back, looking at the ground. “I’ll let you get back to torturing yourself in the name of cheerleading.” Alexander turned to leave but Gabby grabbed his arm.

“You think I’m doing this for cheerleading?” She turned to Sammy, her expression exasperated. “You’re right. Your brother is dense.”

Sammy giggled.

Gabby squeezed his hand, urging him to look at her. “I came up with that crazy plan so you might actually decide you want to spend more than five minutes with me again.”

Confused, Alexander’s gaze flew between the two of them.

“You idiot.” She dropped his hand and threw her arms into the air. “I can’t date a person who can fly if I’m scared of heights, now can I?”

Alexander gaped at her for a moment. “I’m not a person.” He wanted to hold on to the hope she still wanted him, but knew it was useless.

“You are a person. You may not have been born on Earth, but you feel, and think, and love, just like any person I know.”

“You deserve better. A human and an angel won’t work.”

“Who says?”

“It’s always been forbidden for an angel to become involved with a human.” he said.

The memory of an all too familiar connection with that rule made him shudder. He fisted his hands at the image of being sentenced after he attacked the angel that blasted false accusations about Sammy.

“Newsflash,” Gabby said impatiently, “I don’t need you to guard me. Now that I know the truth, I can take care of myself. I wouldn’t want you guarding me anyway.”

“You wouldn’t?”

“No, I want you to be my boyfriend. I don’t need protection.” She took his hand again. “I just need you.”

Alexander noticed Sammy slinking off with a look of accomplishment on her face. “By the way,” she called over her shoulder, “he isn’t even a guardian angel. He’s a healer.” She darted over the dunes and into the woods.

“There is just one thing.” Gabby stared him down and Alexander held his breath. This was what he was waiting for. She couldn’t possibly want him now. “You have to tell me everything. No more secrets. I want to be with you, but not if it’s based on lies. For the first time in my life, I don’t feel crazy.”

“You see me turn into a fallen angel and you don’t think you’re crazy?”

“I’ve known for almost a year now that other creatures beyond what we believe to be on Earth are around us. Now, I have proof.” She fisted her hands on her hips. “For the first time in over a year, I know I’m not crazy. Now, out with it.”

His teeth clenched so tight his jaw popped. “All of it?” When she nodded, he groaned inwardly. No way could she handle the entire ugly truth. “I don’t know that you would want to hear all of it. There’re things that no human should know.”

“Trust me, I can take it.”

Man, where to begin? He’d have to tell her about the demons and how he fell from Heaven. Everything, even the fact he’d killed her mother. A wave of nervous energy swept through his body. She’d never want to be with him after hearing that.

He stared past her, out at the gently rolling waves. Maybe this would be best for both of them. He knew he wouldn’t be strong enough to stay away from her on his own. If he told her everything, she’d hate him, possibly even be terrified of him and would keep her distance. Sorrow threatened to consume his human heart but he’d learned how to suppress the emotion since his fall.

“You sure you want to know?” he asked, futilely hoping she’d change her mind.

“Yes.” Gabby pulled on his hand as she sat down, guiding him to her side on the soft sand.

Her silky skin and pale-blue eyes, full of innocence and hope, distracted him. She was everything he yearned to be again, but at what price. He didn’t want to spoil the pureness of her heart, ever, and knew that telling her the truth about her mother’s death was the one way to guarantee she’d want him as far away as possible. Now that he knew her, he couldn’t let her go.

He took a deep breath. The waves crashed and the sea birds called overhead as he began. “There have always been angels and demons. The kind that most religious books speak about, but I don’t know much about fallen angels except they’ve done something to offend the rules of Heaven. I broke a rule when I spoke out to defend Sammy. That’s why I’m here.”

“So, you fell from Heaven because you were protecting Sammy? That doesn’t seem fair.” Gabby’s look of shock and disgust at the news surprised him, and his heart pumped a little faster with hope.

“You have to understand. Sammy was accused of becoming involved with the human she guarded. This is strictly forbidden. When I found out Appius, a fellow angel, filed formal charges, I became angry. Angels do not know anger. Anger is a human trait. Yet, when Appius informed the council presiding over Sammy’s case, I became outraged and threatened him.”

“But you were trying to protect Sammy.”

“It didn’t matter. I was found guilty of acting in a manner unbecoming of an angel and sentenced to live earthbound. Appius informed me that Sammy was found innocent of all charges but, due to my behavior, we were both sentenced. Angels are held to a standard higher than humans. We are divine and cannot falter or sin. You see, she fell because of me.” He the muscles in his back and neck tighten at his confession. It was the first time he’d ever told the story aloud. Sammy had the honors of telling Grace when they arrived.

“I’m sorry.” Gabby wrapped her arms around him, but he pushed her gently away.

“There’s more.” He took a deep breath and continued. “There are things in this world that a human shouldn’t experience. Demons live among humans. They prey on the weak and isolated. You were targeted by a demon.”

She stared at him, her eyes growing wide at the realization. “The ocean. I wasn’t trapped in weeds, was I?”

“No.” His shoulders tensed at the memory of Forras torturing her, his long arms coiling around her thin body, pulling her deeper and deeper.

“You saved me from a demon?”

“Yes, and no. He was toying with you and baiting me for a fight. Once I jumped in, he marked you. You see he wants to torture you and eventually cause us both to turn to his ways. Demons long to have everyone fall with them. It’s Satan’s plan to fight for as many souls as he can, demons are his tool to accomplish his mission.” Alexander watched her, waiting for a hysterical outburst, but none came. “I don’t understand. You should be freaking out. I just told you there are evil creatures hunting you, and you seem perfectly fine with it.”

“I don’t know that I’m fine, but somehow I’m not surprised. I think I already knew demons were after me.”

“How? How could you have possibly known that demons are hunting you?”

Gabby’s bravery amazed him. Never had he witnessed a human so calm, especially in the face of evil. Not a single worry line marred her perfect face.

Gabby paused for a moment. “You’re going to think I’m crazy.”

“Me? I just told you about fallen angels and demons. I don’t think it can get more insane than that.”

“You’d be surprised.” She straightened her frame and pushed her shoulders back. “You know how I love art?”

He nodded. He’d seen her draw and knew it was a connection with her mother. Her mother. He still had to tell her about his part in her mother’s death. The ocean breeze picked up, rustling his hair, as if in warning to tread lightly.

“I also have some crazy dreams,” she said.

“Yes, but the demons cause those. That’s why I tried to watch over you at night.”

“That was you? I mean, the nights I slept without having nightmares. You were there?” She stared at him in amazement.

“Yes.” He averted his gaze for a moment. “I stayed in the tree outside your bedroom window.”