Death In Her Eyes (Children of the Fallen Book 1)

by ERIN BEDFORD

  Geez.

  Too tempted by the plate in my hands, I snagged a pickle and munched on it as I walked back to my room.

  God all mighty! I moaned my delight. If this was the way being one of Sarah's were treated, then I'd be glad to put on a collar, ball gag, the whole works, just for one of these juicy pickles.

  Happily eating away at my plate, I didn't notice any of the students piling into the hallways until I was back where my room was located.

  "Elle, there you are!" Ayden and Coral appeared by my bedroom door. "Where have you been?"

  I held the plate up, as if it must be obvious.

  Coral's pale pink brows bunched together. "How'd you get food between meals? We never get anything when we go."

  "Vinny is a right dick," Ayden said, agreeing with Coral.

  I lifted my other hand hold the stack of books and they both oh'd.

  "Go figures. Vinny is uber superstitious. He never yells at the seers. Afraid it'll change something in his future." Ayden nodded with understanding.

  "Did you need something?" I bit into a chip, savoring its salty goodness while I waited. I hoped they hadn't come here to ridicule me about what happened to Dharma. I really didn't want to deal with that right now.

  "Oh!" Ayden smiled as if remembering something pleasant. "I just wanted to tell you to stay up past bedtime tonight."

  I arched a brow. "Okaaay. Why am I doing this?" It better not be some silly school prank like filling someone's bedroom with maple syrup.

  Coral clapped her hands with glee. "We’re going to—"

  "Shhh." Ayden smacked her on the arm with a frown. "You're going to get us in trouble." Once she was sure no one was listening into the conversation, she leaned in and, with a mischievous gleam in her eyes, whispered, "I don't want to spoil the surprise. It's a once in a lifetime experience."

  "Oh, really?" I continued to chew on a celery stick as I waited for her to get to the good part. I wasn't quite sure our definitions of ‘once in a lifetime’ were the same and needed a bit more to get my juices flowing the way theirs were. They'd been drinking some kind of Kool-Aid, that's for sure.

  "For real!" Coral squealed, getting shushed again by Ayden. "No. I mean it. We're only able to do this kind of stuff once every few years because our liege rarely ever leaves campus."

  This perked my interest. Azazel left campus? Why?

  "So why does it matter if she's here or not? The other teachers are still here though, right?"

  Coral opened her mouth, no doubt to squeal again, but Adyen shot her a look. She pressed her lips tightly shut and bounced in place.

  "None of them are always watching like Azazel," Ayden began, but then Coral jumped in.

  "And Sarah doesn't give a flying flip if we go past the barrier, as long as we're careful." Coral grinned from ear to ear as Adyen glowered at her.

  I busied myself eating so they wouldn't see my reaction to Coral's words. Go past the barrier? I definitely had to go now.

  "Anyway, just be ready. I'll come get you at lights out." Ayden gave Coral one last warning look before they walked away.

  Munching on a carrot while I mulled over what they'd told me, I ducked into my room and shut the door. I sat the plate and books on my desk and flopped down in the chair. Throwing my boots up on the edge of my desk, I popped open one of the first books on the pile.

  I couldn't focus on the words though. My mind kept going back to Ayden and Coral.

  They hadn't asked about Dharma. They hadn't even seemed scared of me. Did the school cover it up? Or was it not as bad as I thought it was?

  The sight of Dharma sprawled on the floor her eyes with staring at nothing made me shudder. Nope. Definitely not over exaggerating.

  I ate about half of the massive sandwich Vinny made me before my phone rang.

  Thank all that was good and sarcastic. It was Nikki.

  "Have my aunts driven you insane yet?"

  Nikki scoffed. "Yeah right. I'm Jewish, remember? My mom has guilt down to an art. There is no way they're gonna break me." I chuckled over her words, slipping out of my chair and over to my purse. As I dug around inside, Nikki asked, "Have you figured out where you are yet?"

  "Not yet, unfortunately, but I have a..." I mumbled under my breath as I tried to find my spare lighter. I'd left my bag in class and hadn't had a chance to go get it yet. That wasn't going to stop me from lighting up though. "Ah ha!" My fingers wrapped around the lighter, and I snagged a cigarette from the pack and took up a seat by the window.

  "What was that ‘ah ha’ about?" Nikki prodded. I could hear the frown on her face.

  "Nothing," I muttered through the side of my mouth, lighting the cigarette and pushed the window open.

  "I'm going to pretend you're not killing your lungs right now and focus on the more pressing matter. When are you coming home?"

  Taking a deep exhale, I blew it out the window. "Hopefully tonight." I let my gaze drift over the courtyard and out beyond where my freedom lay.

  "Tonight?" Nikki squealed. I moved the phone away from my face with a grimace. "What do you mean tonight? I thought you didn't know where you were?"

  "I don't." I tapped the ash on the windowsill. "But apparently, my jail keeper is going to be out tonight, and I've been invited to some mysterious gathering outside the barrier."

  "Oooh. Your first party invite." I could hear the grin in her voice. "Are you excited? Nervous? Think you'll kiss a boy?"

  My lips tugged down at the sides as my mind drifted back to the vision I had of Dex. "No. Definitely not. But I will be out of the barrier, and you'll be able to find me. So, I figured I'd message you as soon as I'm out. Then you search for me. You'll tell me where the nearest town is, and once I've made a decent enough of an appearance not to seem suspicious, I'll make a break for it. I'll hide out until you can come get me, or at least find a bus station."

  "That sounds like a lot of this relies on me being able to find you on the app."

  I inhaled deeply, blowing out the smoke as I said, "I have complete faith in you. If all else fails," I began but was cut off by a knock on my door. My brows furrowed, I sat my cigarette on the edge or the windowsill and walked across the room.

  "If all else fails what, Elle?" Nikki probed me as I turned the doorknob.

  "I'll send you a smoke signal big enough to make the news." I smiled to myself, but the moment I saw Dex's chastising face frowning down at me, my expression slid into neutral. "I'll have to call you back."

  Hanging up the phone, I sat it done on the desk. "Can I help you?" I didn't know which reason Dex was here for. There were three potential reasons for his visit. Dharma? The vision? Or the mercifully given chance to escape the clock was ticking down to?

  Dex lifted my bag. "You forgot this when you ran away."

  I snatched my bag from him, being careful not to touch his hand. I did not want a repeat of whatever caused that vision in his class.

  "Thanks. Bye." I tried to close the door on him, but he shoved in passed me. "Uh, excuse me. This is my room. Talk about privacy."

  Dex ignored me heading straight for the window. "Not when you're living here." He lifted the cigarette from the windowsill and then without a word burned it to a crisp in between his fingers.

  "Hey. I wasn't done with that." I huffed, chunking my bag to the side. "How'd you even know it was there? Do you have some kind of magical smoke detector or something?"

  Dex leaned against my desk, his eyes flicking to the books on top. "I see you visited Sarah. That's good. You could learn a thing or two from her. And I saw you."

  "Saw me?" I cocked a brow. "Like in a vi—"

  "From the courtyard." He interrupted me with a flat look, picking up the book I'd been flipping through. "If you're going to break the rules, at least pretend to hide it."

  I ate up the space between us and grabbed the book from his hands, putting it back on the desk. "I wasn't given any rules. So how should I know if I break them?"

  Scowling, Dex crossed his
arms over his chest and shook his head. "You have to make everything difficult, don't you?"

  I rolled my eyes. "Like you have any room to talk. I told you I didn't have the same powers, and you wouldn't listen. Too butt hurt over some made up wrong I've done."

  "You should have told me you were a student." Dex pushed off my desk, leaving us practically chest to chest, his dark eyes boring into mine.

  "And you shouldn't hit on anything with tits and a pulse," I shot back. My heart raced at our closeness. Wanting and dreading touching him again.

  Dex's voice lowered until I had to strain to hear my eyes locked on his perfect lips. "Are you even going to ask about Dharma?"

  I jerked back as if slapped. "I figured since no one was chasing me out that she's fine."

  "Do you even care? If she'd been damaged beyond repair, would you even blink?"

  I gaped at him. Then I slammed my mouth shut and, with anger billowing up in my chest, did something I never did. I touched him. On purpose.

  Shoving my finger at his chest, I braced myself for the sweet caress of his lips. The hot need that filled my body before. But this time, much to my relief and horror, I felt the sharp slice of pain from a sword. Blood trickled down the side of my mouth—no, his mouth—and someone was screaming in the distance.

  A warm hand latched onto my wrist, and I shoved the image away, giving him instead an easier one to swallow as he probed at my mind. The vision of Dharma's death.

  He gasped, his eyes flying open as he stumbled back from me and released my wrist.

  "That's what I not only see, but feel every day." I walked toward him, watching as he took a step back for each one I took closer. "Think about that the next time you ask me if I even care." I grabbed the door frame in a tight grip while Dex stared after me with mixed emotions. "I'd explode if I had to care anymore." To my surprise I didn't slam the door in his face. All the energy left me, and I sagged against the door until it shut with a small click.

  AYDEN KNOCKED ON my door shortly after nine. Like before, she didn't wait to be asked in. "You're going to wear that?" Her eyes skimmed my shredded jean shorts and black crop top.

  "What's wrong with it?"

  She placed her hands on the hips of her clinging red dress and sighed. "Your shirt has holes in it. I can see your bra!"

  I glanced down at the hot pink bra peeking out the strategically placed holes and shrugged. "So? It's not my nipples. Are you even wearing bra?" I arched a brow, jerking my chin toward her headlights.

  Quickly covering her chest with her arms, Ayden's face turned beet red. "Leave me alone. I can't wear one with this dress."

  "Then why didn't you wear something else?" I bent down to put my boot on over the just as holey fishnet tights I wore beneath my shorts.

  "It's a party."

  "And?"

  "And..." She trailed off, turning her face to the side as she tapped her fingertips together. "And Bishop will be there."

  My brows rose. "Ohhh. Ayden likes the broody type, does she?"

  "He's not broody. He's deep," Ayden countered, and stomped to the door. "Come on before we're late."

  "And he's a mental on top of it." I mock clucked my tongue at her. "Oh, Ayden. What would everyone say?" We quickly and quietly hurried down the hallway.

  "Shut up, you. Or I'll tell everyone you have the hots for a teacher."

  I startled back, pausing in place. "No, I don't. I mean, I don't know what you're talking about."

  I thanked the shadows of the hallways for hiding my expression. Dex was unbelievably hot, sure. But I needed a bit more than attraction to be into someone.

  What about the vision? You obviously don't need much more if that's any indicator of your future.

  I shoved my inner bitch down and focused on staying unseen or heard. I couldn't let my one chance to get past the barriers to get blown because I was distracted. Especially, not by a teacher.

  Once we were out of the school and walking down a cobblestone path, I felt safe enough to ask, "Where are we going again?"

  "Just wait." Ayden grinned and skipped a dance. Spinning full circle, she let her arms swing happily around her. "It's going to be like nothing you've ever seen before. I've only ever gone to one before this, and it was just..." She sighed, clasping her hands before her as she stared up at the starry sky.

  "That good, huh?" I kind of felt bad about missing it. But I had to get out of here. I didn't belong. No matter how much my dad thought I did. He hadn't cared enough to save Mom, so who said he even cared now?

  You know you're wrong. That irritating voice was back again. He wouldn't have brought you here if he didn't. He could have let the angels find you.

  Conflicted by what I'd always known about my dad and what had happened recently, I couldn't bring myself to find a reason to stay. This so-called danger hadn't shown itself. Everyone just said I was in danger outside of the school, but besides my dad and Azazel, I'd yet to meet an angel. Certainly not one who wanted to kill me.

  I rubbed at the mark on my hand, which had faded even more since I'd arrived. Sarah told me it would disappear completely eventually, but guessing when exactly that would happen was like guessing Nikki's favorite celebrity crush, which changed on a daily basis, if not hourly. That girl fell in love far faster than I ever thought healthy or possible.

  The stars and moon lit the way until the cobblestone turned into a dirt path and the gates surrounding the school disappeared with a slight pop of air around us.

  "That was strange."

  Ayden gave me a knowing nod. "Going through the barrier the first time is weird for everyone. You'll get used to it."

  I hummed in agreement, though I had no plans to get used to it. I clutched my purse and phone closer to my side. I'd have liked to bring more with me, but I couldn't let myself look suspicious. I barely got away with the conservative outfit I'd picked out. No way was I trying to hitch a ride or get on a bus wearing a tiny dress. That was just demanding more attention than I needed or wanted right now.

  "We're almost there!" Ayden reached out to grab my hand but stopped herself. "Oops. Sorry."

  I shook my head and smiled, holding my hand out. "It's fine. I won't bite."

  Ayden glanced down at my hand chewing on her lower lip. "Doesn't it hurt you though?"

  I shrugged. "I'm used to it."

  "That's okay." She offered me a shy shrug. "I don't want to do anything that'll cause you pain. I'm just happy you're here."

  Surprised by her choice, I lowered my hand. Most people jumped at the chance to ignore my discomfort. Anything for them to pretend like I was normal. Ayden's words sliced at my guilty conscious once more.

  I followed after her, keeping to myself as I watched her basically dance a whole musical number down the trail into woods I hadn't known were so close to the school. Eventually, laughter and real music could be heard to go along with Ayden's dancing. The dark trees around us lit up with red and yellow light. People awed and cheered. Ayden jumped in place and glanced back at me.

  She clearly wanted to run ahead, so I waved her off. "Go on. I'll catch up." My lips tugged up at the edges, unable to hold my sobering mood with the infectious grin on her face.

  Not having to be told twice, Ayden took off into the woods, leaving me alone. Taking a second to check for others, I pulled my phone out and shot a text to Nikki. I didn't have to wait long for her response.

  Nikki: Nevada? Why the heck would you be all the way out there?

  It was worrying. My dad hadn't only taken me out of the state, but across the country. It was far from Nebraska. It would take more than one bus to get back home, and no way could Nikki get me.

  I shot her a text back, letting her know I'd message her when I left.

  Nikki: Be careful.

  Sticking my phone in my back pocket, I hurried forward. Couldn't give Ayden a reason to come looking for me. At least not now. It was far too early.

  When I broke the clearing, a full out party raged in front of me. Studen
ts hung around big bonfires and drank from red cups, laughing and playing around. Some of them were already too drunk to stand.

  Nephilims weren't that different from human teenagers, it seemed.

  I walked around the bonfire, being careful not to brush up against anyone. Someone held out a cup to me, and I took it without saying thank you. Not that they'd have heard me anyway. The girl who'd given me the cup had her tongue down the throat of another girl who I recognized from my Intro to Enoch class.

  Humming my amusement, I sipped from my cup and meandered around the area. It took all of ten minutes for me to get cornered by Charity, Bishop, and the guy from the smoking spot.

  "What are you doing here?" Charity growled, getting in my path when I tried to walk away.

  "I was invited."

  "Well, I'm uninviting you." Charity tried to take my cup, but I spun around in place keeping her from taking it.

  I narrowed my eyes on her. "Apparently, we're back to mean girl mode, huh? No secret cigs between classes anymore? Ah, what a shame." I mock snapped my fingers before taking a drink of my cup, my eyes on her the whole time.

  "That was before you basically put Dharma in a coma, you freak!" Charity screeched, putting her hands on her hips as she got into my face.

  I held my hands up and out to the side. "Hey, I was just doing the assignment. It's not my fault your friend doesn't know how to take the memory she is given." I sighed and stared down into my cup. "Some memories deserve to stay buried."

  Then to my utter horror, Charity burst into tears. Bishop patted her on the back awkwardly while the other guy glared at me as if I'd hit her in some way.

  "All...she...wanted..." Charity hiccupped, and a whining sound came out of her nose as she cried. She patted Bishop on the arm, which was apparently code for you tell her, ’cause he turned that emo hair sweep in my direction.

  "Dharma was just trying to protect everyone."

  I frowned. "From me? How does digging in my brain protect anyone? It obviously didn't help her."

  My comments only made Charity cry harder, and now it was pot guy’s turn to step in.

  "We've had numerous sightings of angels nearby, and she needed to make sure you weren't an angel pretending to be one of us."