'Til Fear Do Us Part (A Grim Awakening Book 1)

by Michelle Gross

  He grabbed my hand, catching me off guard with how his fingers caught with mine. I stared at our hands together as he led me to the passenger seat of my car. He opened the door and tossed me inside. Really, he just shoved me in there. I studied my hand, knowing it wasn't a good idea to be letting a stranger do as he pleased with me. He held the answers I wanted, though. He moved around the front of the car and got in the driver's side.

  “Where are you taking me?” I asked cautiously.

  “Home,” he answered. I hadn't expected that answer.

  Ten minutes later, he was pulling the car into my driveway. I hadn't believed he was telling the truth until then. I unbuckled my seatbelt and glanced at him. Now why was this suddenly so awkward. I went from hating the guy, being afraid of him, thinking he was a liar... Just who was he?

  A new understanding passed over me. I would just have to get to know him.

  I wasn't sure what I was supposed to say to him as he turned off the car. “Um, thanks?” I offered.

  He raised an eyebrow at my new-found manners before looking toward my house. “Go upstairs to your room.”

  “What?”

  “I'll meet you up there.” He placed his hand on the steering wheel.

  “Wait a second—” I started to argue, but he cut me off with a single glare. Not sure I could do anything else, I did as he said. I went inside. Mom and Alex were watching a movie. I said a quick “hello” and hurried upstairs before either of them could see my shoulder. I closed my bedroom door behind me. When I turned back around, he was there.

  “You're really in my room!” I hissed at him.

  “Sit down.” He must love ordering me around. When I didn't, he grabbed my arm and forced me to sit down on the bed. How did he get in my room? I eyed him suspiciously. I was too quick at getting up here for him to have found a way to climb.

  He sat next to me, moving me closer as he tugged my t-shirt down. I winced from the pain. “Are you going to start freaking out?” he asked. I got nervous when he asked.

  “It depends, why are you asking?”

  “Don't freak out,” he warned.

  “Oh my god,” I said now on the verge of freaking out. “What are you gonna do?” I willed myself not to panic. Too much.

  He looked irritated. “Will you stop? You're doing exactly what I said not to.” I tried to get up, but he pushed me back down on the bed.

  “You shouldn't have told me not to freak out, that's only making me freak out,” I heaved.

  He arched a dark brow before sighing. He gripped my arm while putting his free hand on my cut. Something warm hit my shoulder. I could see a white glow spreading underneath his palm. It heated my skin to the point that it was almost ticklish. The glowing stopped and he removed his hand. I stared in amazement at my shoulder. It was healed. No mark, scab, or scar to show that it had ever happened.

  “Oh,” I said in awe. “Oh.” This time in horror. I looked up to him with fear. “What are you?”

  “I wonder...” He avoided the question.

  “Why is she trying to kill me?” I whispered. “And that thing at the movie theater, you stopped it from hurting me.” When he looked away, I knew I was right. “Answer me.”

  “I already told you, demons are after you. One in particular has had his sights set on you a long time. How long have you had the mark on your chest?” he asked.

  “Since I was nine. I was attacked by something.”

  “It's been since then that you've been able to see ghosts?” I nodded. “When he attacked you, he opened up the spirit world to you. Things humans shouldn't see.” I knew the attack was the cause of it, I just never knew why or how.

  “Why did he attack me? And why are all these demons after me now?” He moved from the bed to the window. He leaned against the wall and gazed outside before answering me.

  “You are the Vessel, Melanie.” I gave him a funny look.

  “A vessel?” I cracked a smile.

  He turned around to look at me. Only he wasn't smiling. “You're not just a vessel. You're the Vessel. The only one.” He sighed when I just kept looking at him liking he was crazy. “It was thought to be a rumor angels made up. Until you were born. You couldn't be touched as a child or awakened; until your eighteenth birthday.”

  “What?” I said stupidly. Angels? I was the Vessel?

  “What I'm saying is true. Your life is in danger but that much, you know. Why do you not believe what I say with everything that's happened already?” He frowned, his muscular body tensing up. The room felt smaller with him in it.

  “Listen to what you are saying,” I told him.

  He groaned, running his hands through his messy dark hair. He looked up. “I don't understand why I have to protect you.”

  “You claim to be here to protect me, that's still up for debate,” I added.

  He looked at me like he wanted to hurt me. “You're impossible, Human. You'd be dead already if it wasn't for me.”

  That was true, but that didn't mean that he wasn't up to something. “Okay, explain.”

  “It's hard to explain to a mere human that knows nothing.”

  “Explain the Vessel part.”

  He studied the shade lamp on the nightstand. It was getting darker in my room now that the sun was almost gone from the sky. Every second the room seemed to grow darker and my fear did with it. My lamp flickered on just as I was getting up to turn it on. I stared at him. Somehow, he turned it on.

  “You're a weapon,” he finally answered.

  “A weapon?” I placed my arms underneath my breasts, arching one eyebrow. His eyes followed my movement and lingered on my chest a little longer than I liked. I dropped my arms back down.

  “Power. No one knows anything else about it other than it being a vast amount of power. Demons love power, they crave it. Want it for themselves. Which is why they're after you and why I was sent here to protect you,” he said the last part distastefully.

  “This all sounds so crazy.” I grabbed my head and fell back onto the bed.

  “What's crazy is me having to protect you,” he said again. I heard him move and tilted my head to see him.

  He was watching me. “How did you turn on that lamp?” I asked, leaning up.

  “Power,” was all he offered. “I'm a busy being, I have many responsibilities. Unfortunately, that now involves looking after you so do me a favor and do as I say.” He tipped his chin up. “That is, if you want to live.”

  I stood from the bed and walked until I was in front of him. “Who are you? If I have to see you again, I should at least know that much.”

  “Killian,” he whispered.

  “Killian.” I let his name slip through my lips. As if saying his name would make everything real. “Okay, now what the heck are you Killian?”

  He took a step closer to me; we were only inches apart. I leaned away, but kept my eyes locked with his. He reached for my waist to keep me from going any further. He towered his huge frame over my smaller one. I never took my eyes away from his, afraid that this was a test to see if I would look away. I wouldn't, even though I wanted to.

  “Are you sure you want to know?” he whispered in my ear. I was so aware of every part of him around me that I couldn't muster up an answer. He stepped away and I could breathe again. “What do you think I am?” he asked, amused with my reddened cheeks.

  “The devil,” I answered immediately.

  He looked repulsed. “Do not insult me like that.”

  I went wide-eyed. “You speak as if you know him?” That was very unsettling.

  “Well...” He laughed, my lamp flickered on and off. I would be afraid if I didn't know it had to be him. He acted bored with the topic. “You can say I keep his business in check, in a way.” I never noticed I was backing away from him until I fell onto my bed. “You don't have to fear me. I don't come after the living.” His voice was alarming and playful all at once. “Not until you die, then I come for you.”

  It was hard not to feel scar
ed. I didn't know this man. Or if he was even a man. He showed up the same day the fog had. How could I trust a stranger to protect me? My shoulders dropped in defeat.

  What other choice did I have?

  I looked back up. “What does that even mean?”

  “I'll leave you to think about it.” He smiled before disappearing before my very eyes. I blinked several times. I laughed before it turned into a cry for help. Yes, this was me giving in. My life was taking another drastic turn. Like ghosts weren't enough. Now demons? I was the Vessel? What did any of this even mean. I stared at the blurring red light of my alarm clock and rubbed the shoulder Killian healed. It wasn't like I was getting any more answers tonight.

  Chapter Five

  That morning I wondered if maybe I could ignore my alarm clock beeping in the distance. If I ignored the fact that I needed to get Alex up for school. If only I stopped worrying about everything and just stayed in the warmth of my bed. Maybe all my worries would go away.

  Only that wasn't possible.

  I couldn't stay in bed forever. I had to pee. And I would eventually get hungry. Laying down at night was never a comfort for me. It was only a reminder of how little I slept, tossing and turning every night. My own thoughts would drive me mad. Giving up wasn't an option for me, so I pulled the blanket from my face and hit snooze. I climbed out of bed, woke Alex, and drove him to school.

  The day went in a blur, in a horrible slow-motion kind of way. I was there but not really. My thoughts kept me where they wanted me while my body seemed to know everything it needed to do. A bell rung in the distance but I was barely aware of it.

  “Melanie.” Tess shook my shoulder, heaving an irritated sound. “Melanie.” She finally got my attention. I didn't know how long she stood there calling my name. The classroom was already empty.

  “Yeah,” I mumbled. I closed the open book on my desk, picking it up as I stood. I could hear her flats on the concrete floor as she hurried to catch up to me.

  “Hey, are you okay?” She caught up to me as I left the classroom, leaning in close. Her hair caught between her lips and she pulled it away. “You're acting weird. Well weirder,” she pointed out.

  “I'm fine.”

  At our lockers, we tossed our books in before going to the cafeteria. Cheeseburgers and fries were on the menu. I ate every tasteless bite. I don't remember any of the conversations we had during that time. The rest of the school day went by just like that.

  As I walked through the parking lot after school, someone caught me by the arm. I jumped, almost dropping the worn-down satchel I carried around with my books. Ryan twisted me around to face him. “Hey.” I stared, feeling the mask I wore all day crumbling underneath his worried look.

  Stop Melanie. You made a promise to yourself you needed to keep.

  “What's wrong? Tell me, the truth.” His expression deepened, his grip on my arm tightening. “Not anything but the truth.”

  I felt my resolve weaken. I wanted to keep him in my life, just because I was greedy for him. But I also wanted to keep him out of my problems because he deserved normal. Now I realized how impossible that was. I was on the verge of crumbling and I wanted him to be the anchor. I needed someone to tell me everything was going to be okay.

  I was scared. Afraid of myself. Of everything. So, I gave in.

  “You wouldn't believe me.” I teared up.

  He released my arm and looked at me like I had physically hurt him. “Melanie, I understand why you're afraid to let people in. I know that better than anyone, but this is me. I've always been on your side. I believe everything you say because I know it's the truth. I don't see the things you do, but I wished I could. So, you wouldn't ever have to be alone in your world.” The tears fell from my eyes, sliding down my cheeks. He placed his hands on my face and began to wipe them away. The act of kindness only made me cry harder.

  “I don't have practice; you are coming home with me and you’re gonna spill your heart out. Everything.” His hands were still cupping my cheeks when I nodded my reply.

  _________

  I pulled in Ryan's driveway, parking behind his truck. I followed him so that he wouldn't have to take me back to my car when I left. I admired their beautiful log home. It wasn't a two-story home but it was still big. I always loved log homes, something gorgeous and country about them. Ryan stepped out of his truck and smiled back at me. I smiled, it feeling real for the first time today.

  Tess was out with Mike and I knew his parents weren't home. I shut my car door and followed him inside. Ryan and his dad were hunters and it was obvious when you entered the home. A bobcat mounted on one wall when you entered, resting above the fireplace. Its eyes seemed to follow me everywhere in the room, always freaking me out every time I came over. Two deer heads were mounted on another wall. The kitchen and living room were joined in one huge room, separated by a wooden bar.

  They also had a trophy room that held all their guns in two gun safes and a buffalo was mounted in that room. I wasn't a fan of hunting; I didn't have the heart to. But I did have respect for Ryan and his dad, they didn't do it just for sport. They ate what they killed.

  I knew his parents were gone because their vehicles were missing but I still asked. “Where's your parents?” I slipped off my shoes by the door.

  “Dad's working and Mom's probably at the grocery store or something.” He tossed his keys on the wooden bar before going to his bedroom. “My rooms a mess. I wasn't expecting company.” When I entered, he was picking up piles of dirty clothes scattered over the floor. I smiled as he ran to the laundry room with them. He had a few pop cans scattered in the room. He had a computer desk in one corner and a TV in front of his bed. It was very different than my clean, organized room. I didn't have a computer in my bedroom, instead I kept a large bookshelf full of books.

  I laughed as he came back in the room. “It's okay, I already know you're a slob.” He tossed a sock that he missed in the floor at me and I squealed, smacking it away. “Not nice,” I told him, and he smiled.

  Silence filled the room. We were alone in his room. I shouldn't have been so nervous. I spent many days locked away in this room with him, sometimes with Tess. But now it felt new.

  I moved to the desk and sat down in the computer chair. He coughed, awkwardly and dropped down on his bed. “Let's talk.” He broke the silence. I twirled around in the chair, randomly, avoiding and dreading this conversation. He stopped the chair, pulling it close to him. He looked to me for answers.

  I scooped my legs up and hid my face in my knees. “I don't want you to think I'm even crazier,” I mumbled into my knees.

  He grabbed my knees so that I looked up. He looked desperate. “Have you not been listening? It's me, look how long we've been friends.”

  “I know,” I said quickly. “I know. I'm in danger, Ryan. Things are after me.” I waited, hoping and praying he didn't give me the look my parents had always given me. Like I was insane. But it never came. With every passing second all I could see was the worry I felt coming from his eyes. He believed me.

  “What's after you?”

  “I think demons. Or that's what he told me.”

  “He?” he asked, alarmed.

  “Yeah, I don't know who he is-” My cell phone rang, cutting me off. I pulled it from my pocket, it was a number I didn't recognize. “Hello?” I answered.

  “Do you wish for me to erase your boyfriend’s memories?” Killian's harsh voice drifted through my ear.

  “What?” I spoke calmly, Ryan was looking at me.

  “You're about to tell him about me. And everything else that's happened. Don't. It will put him in danger.” I didn't reply and stared toward Ryan. He looked to me patiently. I never imagined I'd was putting him in danger. I swallowed, stomach feeling queasy. “Not another word.” The called ended. I dropped the hand that was holding the phone to my ear.

  “Who was it?” he asked.

  “Oh, um.” I tried to think of an answer to give him. “Mom!” That also
reminded me of someone I forgot. “Oh, god. Alex.” I forgot to pick him up after school.

  “What?” Ryan stared confused.

  I hurried out of his room. He followed behind me as I stopped at the front door to slip on my shoes. “I forgot to pick Alex up after school. I was so worried about myself that I forgot about him.” I sighed. “I'm a horrible sister.”

  Ryan stepped in front of the door. “Melanie, wait. Who were you talking about?” It took a second to remember who he was referring to. I reached for the doorknob, avoiding his eyes.

  “Oh, Alex. He's been so nervous lately, always talking about demons and stuff,” I lied. “It's the games he's been playing but you know me. The simplest things leave me on edge.” His shoulders sagged in relief and I plastered a smile on my face.

  “I was worried.”

  “Sorry. I got to go.” He opened the door for me as I hurried to the car.

  I rushed to Alex's school, driving recklessly. I parked at the door and ran inside. The principal’s office was the first door on the right as I walked in.

  “Can I help you?” an elderly secretary asked as she stacked papers in a pile.

  “Yeah, I need to pick up Alex Rose,” I told her.

  She wrinkled her nose as she squinted at me. “He's in the cafeteria. He stayed back for after-school.”

  “Thank you.” I smiled leaving the room. I had forgot, today was one of the days of the week that he stayed back for tutoring or activities. I panicked for nothing. I walked the hallway, remembering my own childhood spent here. Brought back so many memories and the painful one I wanted to forget.

  I spotted him next to a boy and cute girl as I stepped into the cafeteria. I looked at my phone and went back outside and waited. He had another thirty minutes left, I could wait. But I got sidetracked as I walked outside when I noticed a boy swinging at the playground. To anybody else it would have looked like a swing swinging by itself, surrounded by a line of others that weren't moving. Life taken so soon, made me wonder what happened to him. As if he knew I was watching him, he stopped and walked away, disappearing into nothing.