Darker (6 page)

“
Gabriel, have you met Alexa?” Brogan was all smiles, clearly used to his sullen teenage behavior.

At last he met my eyes. With a half nod, he said, “You have a pretty wild reputation. How much of it is true?”

“
I guess that depends what everyone’s saying about me.” I shrugged. He was curious and trying hard to prove that I didn’t intimidate him. I had to admire his grit.

“
Did you really make a vampire’s head explode?” He asked with undisguised interest.

I stifled a laugh. “Yes. Several.”

“
And, did you really kick a demon’s ass?”

“
That’s a bit of an exaggeration.” My expression turned sour. Hoping to redirect the conversation away from demon talk, I pulled my laptop out of its bag and slid it across to him. “So, you think you can do this? I’m completely lost.”

“
I’ll give it a shot.” Gabriel’s mood lightened, and he grabbed the laptop eagerly. “Let’s see what we’re dealing with.”

He peered through a fringe of long, dyed-black hair. I waited impatiently while he clicked around on the keyboard. I had swiped those files months ago. Judging by how heavily encrypted they were, there had to be something worth finding on them.

“
Oh yeah,” Gabriel murmured after several minutes had passed. “These are definitely spelled somehow. It doesn’t feel like serious magic, though. I’m sure I can break it.”

“
What do you need?” Brogan asked, awaiting instruction.

“
Maybe a gemstone. Lapis Lazuli should work.”

Brogan grabbed a large black box from a shelf and began to dig through the padded display boxes inside. I watched her with a knot in my stomach. Close to finally finding out what information Veryl had been hoarding, I was as excited as I was anxious since I expected to discover something I would rather not know.

“
Here.” Brogan placed a royal blue stone next to Gabriel. It was the size of a small egg, streaked with gold that glinted brightly despite the low lighting in the back room.

“
What does that do?” I asked, eyeing up the stone.

“
It’s a truth stone,” Brogan explained. “It helps set the truth free.”

Gabriel ran a hand over the smooth edges of the stone. It responded to his touch by glowing a deep but vibrant blue. The room grew warm with Gabriel’s strong energy. I was drawn to it, unable to tear my gaze from him as softly spoken Latin tumbled from his lips.

After a moment, he paused, staring at the computer screen. I grew restless. I wanted to see it for myself. He shook his head and muttered a few obscenities.

“
I’m surprised that didn’t work,” he mused. “The spell that was used is stronger than I thought. Let me try something else.”

Tapping his fingers against the tabletop, Gabriel’s thoughtful gaze fell upon me. I raised a brow in question, but his expression remained unchanged. He began to speak the words again, slower this time. Again, the stone glowed, brighter this time. I sensed a shift in the atmosphere, the build-up before a transfer of energy. Was it working?

Without so much as a stutter or a stall in his words, Gabriel leaned across the table and grabbed my hand. He uttered the last word, and an intense ticklish sensation shot up my arm. Our energy merged into one, directed by Gabriel’s spell. The crystal responded with a bright cerulean light that was nearly blinding.

“
Sorry,” he said with a sheepish grin. He released my arm and turned the laptop toward me. “I needed a bigger energy source than myself. You’re obviously the natural choice. But, I think it worked.”

I dragged the computer over with the eagerness of a kid on Christmas morning. Holding my breath, I clicked the first file of the dozen or so. It opened without issue. I almost squealed with glee.

“
Thank you,” I gushed. “You’re a lifesaver. I owe you one, Gabriel. Seriously.”

He sat back in his seat with a nonchalant shrug, but I could see that he was pleased with himself. “Sure. It was no problem. With power like yours, you could easily do stuff like this on your own. If you learned a few spells.”

“
No thanks.” I smiled. “I’ll leave that to you guys. Spells are really not my thing. I’m more of a point and shoot kind of gal.”

I poured through the file, finding a blueprint of the FPA building as well as information on how to access the various entrances. That could be handy, as long as the FPA remained in that building. Clicking on another file, I was surprised to discover a copy of what appeared to be a contract. Raoul’s signature caught my eye, and my heart began to pound.

Without another look at the document, I backed up all of the files online and closed the laptop. This stuff was better viewed in private, where I could freely exhibit an emotional response to whatever I might find.

“
I should go.” Gabriel stood up and stretched his lanky body. “If I’m late again, my mom is going to shit a brick.”

“
How is she taking everything?” Brogan asked with a gentle smile. “Any better?”

“
Nah, not really. I’m forbidden to do magic in the house. She’s been pretty freaked out since she caught me floating the cat.” Gabriel chuckled. “I’m glad that’s all she caught me doing.”

Brogan’s smile faltered, but she carefully twitched it back into place before the boy could notice. “Well, be careful. She’s freaked out because she cares about you. Don’t give her a reason to worry, and she’ll come around.”

Gabriel opened his mouth to reply when a crash from the front of the store cut him off. Brogan and I gasped in unison. Before we could react, a figure appeared in the doorway. It was Falon.

He didn’t so much as glance my way; his angry pale gaze was locked on Gabriel. Falon crossed the room in a motion too fast to follow. He grabbed Gabriel by the throat and shook him violently.

“
You little shit. Did you think we wouldn’t find out?” Falon shook the frightened teen so hard his teeth rattled. “You can’t lie to a demon and get away with it.”

“
I didn’t see anything,” Gabriel choked out. His face turned a dangerous shade of red. “I couldn’t. I tried.”

I was on my feet, confused but ready to intervene. “Falon? What the hell is this about?”

“
Not a word out of you, wolf. This doesn’t concern you.”

Falon lashed out at me without a move or look my way. I rolled ass over teakettle until I landed splayed against the heavy-duty rear exit. Before Brogan could act, Falon hit her with a slap of power as well. It held her frozen in her chair, unable to come to Gabriel’s aid.

Rubbing the back of my head, I grimaced as pain shot through my skull. I got to my feet slowly, wary of Falon’s temper. I didn’t want another taste of it. Though I loathed the fallen angel with abundance, I’d seen enough of his abilities to know I didn’t want to tangle with him. Still, I couldn’t just stand by while he throttled a kid.

“
You had only to tell the truth,” Falon stated, his tone low and malicious. “You’re either incredibly brave or unbelievably stupid.”

“
Please.” Gabriel struggled violently. His eyes bulged, and he fought for air. “I’ll try again. Even if I can’t see anything, I can still do the spell.”

“
You’re damn right you’ll do the spell. I still think you saw something. Ready to start talking?” Falon shoved Gabriel hard, sending him sprawling in a heap of flailing limbs.

Blood trickled from Gabriel’s forehead. He gulped in deep breaths, watching the fallen angel with terror-filled eyes. Falon didn’t move. He was just suddenly there, standing over the quaking teenager with a macabre light in his eyes.

“
Come on, Falon,” I tried again, willing to risk another bitch slap of power. “He’s just a kid. Take it easy.”

I got Falon’s attention easily enough. A frown creased his brow, and he wore his usual sardonic expression as he sauntered toward me. I braced myself. Falon’s asshole extraordinaire persona wasn’t new to me, but it was, however, a pain in the ass.

“
Listen, you filthy little beast,” he oozed contempt. “I didn’t come here to be pummeled by your pitiful hybrid powers or to offer you an explanation for my actions. So, save the superhero act. The kid and I have business. Which is none of yours.”

The angel was as smarmy and arrogant as ever. He brought my wolf roaring forth with a snarl. My fangs filled my mouth, two on the top and two on the bottom. My fingernails lengthened into claws, and I stared at Falon through wolf eyes. He smirked, enjoying my defensive rage.

“
So this is how you get your kicks now?” I demanded. “By bullying innocent kids? I knew you were a worm, but this is really low.”

Gabriel coughed as he caught his breath. His eyes were wide as he took in my wolfed out appearance. “I’m not a kid. I’m nineteen.”

“
He’s also far from innocent,” Falon replied, continuing his slow advancement on me. “Don’t be naive, Alexa. Nobody is guiltless. You should know that.”

“
I’m not going to keep quiet while you rough him up, Falon.” I spat his name with as much venom as he’d injected into mine. We certainly had no love lost between us. I couldn’t think of anyone I loathed quite so much.

Falon stopped short of touching me. Invading my personal space in a blatantly rude way, he spread his great silver wings. They were huge, cloaking him from shoulder to ankle and wider than his arms were long. It was an attempt to intimidate me, which didn’t work anymore. I was wary of Falon, but I wasn’t truly afraid of him.

“
Fine,” he quipped. “Make all the noise you like while I rough him up then. Just stay out of it. I came for answers, and I’m not leaving without them.”

As he looked me over, his pale silver gaze became scrutinizing. Then, he added as an afterthought, “Actually, maybe you could be useful.”

Before I could fend him off, Falon grabbed my arm. He dragged me over to Gabriel despite my attempts to shake myself free. Falon’s hand was cold and clammy. It made me fight harder, but he held tight. I was no match for his immortal strength.

“
Dammit, Falon, let me go. I’m not doing a damn thing for you.” My power crashed over me, rising in response to my urgency.

“
Oh please, do it. I dare you.” Falon’s laughter echoed through the room. “You may be a big fish with the other blood feeders, but you’re an insect to me. Now, I’m going to ask the kid here a question or two, and you’re going to tell me if he’s lying.”

“
So there
is
something I can do that you can’t,” I scoffed.

Falon released his hold on me but stood invasively close. I leaned away as if that would make a difference. He was a foul creature, and I wanted him to know how pathetic he was.

“
Gabriel here is a precognitive clairvoyant. He can see the future for those he touches. You didn’t let him touch you, did you, wolf?” The fallen angel’s mocking laughter continued. “He touched Shya and lied about what he saw. Now, he’s going to tell the truth.” To Gabriel, he said, “Start talking. What did you really see?”

“
I told you.” Gabriel faced the angel with a brave face that was betrayed only by the scent of fear oozing from him. “I couldn’t see anything. Nothing. It doesn’t work on immortals.”

The acrid scent of a lie mingled with his fear. So, he was lying after all. I forced my best poker face into place so I was ready when Falon’s attention returned to me.

“
So?”

I met his gaze evenly. “He’s telling the truth, Falon. Why is that so hard for Shya to accept? I’m sure there are other ways he can sneak a peek at the future.”

I crossed my arms and tapped a foot impatiently. The sooner Falon left, the better. I had a few questions for Gabriel myself.

“
Of course there are,” Falon replied, studying me a little too closely, “but they tend to involve rather heavy sacrifices. Are you volunteering?”

“
Why did he send you?” I changed the subject. “Can’t Shya do any of his own dirty work?”

“
What can I say? I enjoy it.”

Falon took a few steps back. He pointed a finger at Gabriel. The air around him hummed with a heavy energy that made it hard to breathe.

“
I’m watching you, kid. I’ll be back when it’s time to do that spell.” With a glance my way, he added, “Shya’s waiting to hear from you, Alexa. You should follow your twin’s lead and make staying alive your priority.”

Before I could make sense of his comment, he was gone. The pressure on my lungs decreased, and Brogan was freed of his hold.

“
Well, I really gotta run.” Gabriel darted for the door.

I blocked his exit. Shaking my head, I forced him to look deep into my eyes. He flinched, apparently uneasy with my wolf looking out at him.

“
You owe me an explanation,” I demanded. “I lied for you. Now, tell me what you saw when you touched Shya.”

He looked nervously to Brogan who only shrugged and nodded. Swallowing hard, Gabriel shoved a hand through his long, tangled hair.

“
I’ve been trying so hard not to think about it. It was just a glimpse, but it was so awful.” He paused as if he had to gather the strength to say it. “I saw his real form. And, it is not human. Not even close. He was standing in the center of a circle, performing a ritual. A sacrifice maybe. Whatever he was doing, he failed. There was a flash of light. It took him out. That’s all I saw. I swear. But, I lied. I told him what he wanted to hear. That he would rise to greater power.”