Broken Butterflies (5 page)

At her mom’s house, she heard someone in the kitchen. Assuming it was her mother, she opened the swinging door that separated the kitchen from the dining room. Instead of her mother, it was Bram. “What are you doing here?”

He leaned on the counter like he might fall down if he didn’t have the support. “You need to take those pants off and wash your hands.”

“Are you okay?” she asked, stepping toward him. He grabbed her arm and pulled her to the kitchen sink. “Hey,” she protested.

Ignoring her irritation, he flipped up the handle and let the warm water run. “Wash.”

“Okay geez, why are you being so pushy?”

“Take your pants off.”

“I’ll go upstairs and change.” She pointed with her thumb behind her and went to turn.

“No time.” Ilisha followed his eyes. Winding up her leg, the black powder converged, and began to wrap around her.

“What the?” Her sweats tightened around her thigh, getting even tighter as she watched. She could feel the pressure squeezing her muscles.

Ilisha panicked and grasped at them, but Bram caught her hands. “I’m sorry,” he said as he tore the pants from her. In one clean, swift, tug, she stood in her underwear.

Bram dug through the cabinets for a pot. Finding the one he wanted, fire appeared in the palm of his hand. Her sweats went up in flames. Smoke detectors in the house rang. Bram stuck his palm to the floor. There was a soft thud under Ilisha’s feet as a shock wave traveled through the house, causing the smoke alarms to disable. Everything in the cabinets rumbled for a second. He slumped to the floor, leaving Ilisha to think he fainted.

“Oh my gosh, are you okay?” she asked, bending down looking into his eyes.

“Do me a favor?” he whispered.

“Okay.”

“Get rid of that pot before your mother comes home—in two minutes.”

“You know when my mom will be home?”

He disappeared right before her eyes without answering. She swiped the air where he sat and found nothing but a cold spot. Ilisha stood there trying to grasp what had happened. Hearing the storm door open she snapped to it. She had just enough time to grab the pot and run up the stairs. She shoved it in her closet and grabbed another pair of sweats. Walking downstairs calm and collected, she met her mom at the bottom. “What happened in the park?” she asked, leaning nonchalantly against the rail.

“I have no idea, but it’s just terrible. Who would vandalize the park?” Dena said her head scrunched up in irritation.

“I have a feeling who.” Ilisha muttered under her breath.

“Do you want breakfast?” Dena called over her shoulder as she walked toward the kitchen.

“No, I’m fine.”

Ilisha bounded back up the stairs and jumped in the shower. She knew she needed more answers from Bram.

Wrapping a towel around her, she walked out of her bathroom and jumped, stifling a scream. Bram sat on her bed.

“Don’t do that again,” she said, putting her hand on her chest.

Bram took in her appearance. “Maybe this was a bad time.”

“No. You’re not leaving until I get some answers.”

As she came toward him, he jumped off her bed and walked to her closet. He tossed the first shirt and pair of pants he found at her.

“O-kay,” she said, walking back to the bathroom to change.

When she emerged, she was in a button down plaid shirt and a pair of pajama pants with kittens on them. “Not exactly high fashion,” she said, looking down at the outfit. These clothes had been in the closet since high school.

“Better,” Bram said.

“Better than what, a tarp?” she replied, chuckling.

“Better for me. You needed to talk?” he said, sitting back down.

“You know my thoughts?”

“No, not exactly; I can see the future.”

“That’s how you knew about the train,” she said, sitting beside him.

“Yes.” He took her chin in his hand. “Will you trust me?”

That familiar shock of his touch ran down her spine. “Of course.”

“There are things I can’t tell you. It’s for your protection.”

“What happened to the park?”

“A fight broke out.”

“A fight?” She chuckled. “Um, it looks more like a nuke hit it.”

“Typical angel-demon fight.”

“What?”

“Your stalker,” he waited for her acknowledgment, “is a demon. His name is Damon.” Bram looked away for a second when he said the name, uncomfortable. “He made a move for you last night, and we battled in the park.”

“Why didn’t any of us hear it? I mean, that kind of destruction comes with a lot of noise.”

“There was noise. I erased the memories of it.”

“Okay, that’s creepy.”

“There would be no way to explain it. People wouldn’t accept knowing there are beings with supernatural power.”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. I still don’t know how to take all this.” She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. “What about this Damon guy? Why does he want to hurt me?”

“Hurt you? No, he wants to kill you. I interfered with your destiny on that train, and he has come to collect.”

“Collect what?”

“Your soul.”

Ilisha sat back. “What? A demon wants my soul? I don’t even believe in this crap.”

Her fingers rested on her forehead.
This stuff isn’t real. No way.

“Well, you should believe. I’m sitting right in front of you.”

“So what do I do?”

“Nothing. I’ll take care of Damon.”

“That’s reassuring,” she replied sarcastically.

“I haven’t let you die yet, have I?” Bram said, smiling that perfect smile.

“Why did you save me in the first place?”

“I can’t tell you right now.” He took her hands in his. “I promise I’ll protect you.” He stood up.

“You’re leaving?” she asked disappointed.

Before she could protest, he was gone again.

“Great, some crazy demon is trying to kill me and you disappear.”

Ilisha dressed in more appropriate attire and went to see Amy. The last time she was stalked by a demon, so she decided to drive this time. As houses went by she found herself looking behind every bush, tree, and corner for Damon. When she pulled up to Amy’s incident free, she breathed a sigh of relief.

“Hey!” Amy said, throwing open the door.

“Sorry to come without calling.”

“What’s new?” Amy chuckled.

Ilisha tossed her coat on the couch. “More than I can understand.”

She glanced out the window. Bram leaned against her rental car. “Excuse me for a second.”

“Who’s that? Wow, he’s yummy,” Amy said as Ilisha opened the door.

As she walked toward Bram he smiled.

“I don’t want to alarm you, but Damon has recovered from our brawl. You’re going to see me around a lot.”

“Look, I don’t want any more evasiveness. When my life’s on the line, you owe me explanations.”

“I’ll find you later.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek, leaving a soft chill where his lips touched.

“So, who’s that?” Amy asked, looking over Ilisha’s shoulder when she came back in.

“Bram.”

“Oh no, honey, you’re giving me more than a name.”

“I met him on the train, it’s complicated.”

“He’s certified eye candy.”

“True,” Ilisha replied, smiling.

“So, are you dating?”

“No, nothing like that. I didn’t tell you this, but I was involved in that train crash. Bram saved my life.”

Amy grabbed her arm. “Why would you keep something like that from me?”

“I’m fine and I didn’t want a fuss made.”

“Don’t keep secrets from me like that.” Her voice was stern. “I can tell you like him.”

“I’ve never met anyone like him. He gorgeous of course, but it’s more than that. I feel like I’ve known him for a long time. That sounds so crazy. I don’t know anything about him.”

“Maybe you just click with him.”

“Yeah, maybe.”

The baby cried upstairs. “Must be lunch time,” Amy said and left to get the baby.

She walked back down the stairs holding Brooklyn with a blanket and bottle. “Here,” Amy said handing Ilisha a piece of paper as she sat.

“What’s this?”

“Cam’s parents live in Japan. His dad is a lifelong marine. My parents are dead. If something happens to us I want you to take Brooklyn.”

“Amy don’t talk like that.”

“I’m not saying anything will happen, I just want it official.”

“You know I love that little girl like my own,” Ilisha said.

“I know you do” Amy responded.

Cam’s truck pulled up outside. When he walked in he gave a quick hello to Ilisha and planted a long kiss on Amy.

“I should go.” Ilisha grabbed her coat and hugged Amy goodbye.

Amy waved while getting kissed again. The baby grabbed her hair as she was held between her parents.

Ilisha smiled as she walked to the car. She was glad Amy had a good marriage.

She drove past the park. Bulldozers and backhoes moved debris into large dump trucks. Only a few trees were left and all the playground equipment was gone. Masons slathered mortar and stacked new blocks on the baseball dugout.
Utter destruction
she thought.

“Let’s go somewhere and talk,” Bram said beside her. Ilisha jumped and jerked the wheel. The tires squealed against the road as she corrected.

“You really need to stop doing that. Heard of phones?” Ilisha said, clutching her chest.

“I don’t use phones.”

“Of course not.” She rolled her eyes. “Where am I going?”

“The cemetery.”

“Interesting choice,” she said, making a right turn.

“There’s a mausoleum. It’ll give us privacy.”

“Not a good pick up line,” Ilisha replied, grinning.

“I’d say it worked. You
are
coming with me.” Bram flashed his perfect smile.

The tires crunched as the car moved along the pellet road. Ilisha parked in front of the building.

Bram pulled open the heavy copper doors of the mausoleum with ease.

“Never thought I’d have a conversation in a tomb,” she said, chuckling.

Fire danced in Bram’s palm, and he held it up to a large oil lantern hanging from the ceiling. The small room glowed orange. Shadows danced across the marble. The back wall was adorned with stained glass. Brilliant colors depicted a weeping woman kneeling on one knee, her head resting in her hand. A small wreath hung from her other hand, waiting to be placed.

“You know this tomb belongs to the Lishman family. Their line goes way back in this town. I bet there are fifty people in here.” Ilisha ran her hand over the carved names etched into the marble. Bram stared at her, tenderness filling his eyes. “What are you thinking?” she asked.

“You’re a remarkable lady.” His sapphire eyes glowed in the firelight.

“How would you know? We’ve barely met.”

“That’s not true, and you know it.”

“Not sure what that means, but okay.” Ilisha sat on the marble bench in the middle of the room. “Talk to me.”

“What do you want to know?” Bram replied, sitting beside her.

“Well, you can start with how long you’ve known me.”

“Since your birth.”

“Weird.”

“What’s weird? I’m your guardian angel.”

“So what happens now?”