"Why are you guys here?" I ask, struggling to focus on anything that will help me control the volatile emotions and desires raging in my body.
"We go where we’re needed," Gavin says.
"Well that's appropriately vague," I respond, crossing my arms over my chest.
Gavin’s grin widens as if he's proud of himself. Jerk.
"He's been practicing," Luca quips.
Nathaniel grimaces, looking uncomfortable.
"Okay, so what happened?" I ask. "Nathaniel and I were sparring, and then everything went silver and white and I kind of saw some images…"
"What kind of images?" Gavin asks, suddenly serious.
He motions with one hand, and Luca and Ronan move to stand on either side of me.
"I'm not sure," I say, biting my lower lip.
Luca and Ronan hold their hands up, palms facing me then move them up and down about a foot away. Warmth floods through my skin as they move through my energy field and their magic touches me.
"Hold still, we need to check this out," Ronan says.
"I'm fine," I argue.
"Aviella, let them help," Nathaniel says.
I roll my eyes but hold still while they do their work.
Chapter Four
Nathaniel
I watch as the mages fawn over her. It's almost more than I can stand. My blood runs hot, and my heart beats faster. Tension floods my muscles, and there’s an overwhelming urge to hit one of them. I struggle with it and finally manage to get it under control.
What in the hell is wrong with me?
I'm jealous. This is wrong. I can't be falling for her. I can’t but sparring with her was electric. The desire between us is a heavy gravity pulling me ever closer. It would be easier if only I wanted her, but I feel she wants me as well.
When I was close to her, holding her, helping her through the moves… I was barely able to hold onto my concentration.
Duty. I have my duty. I cling to that.
The mages are examining her aura, searching as they try to find the source of what happened. It was powerful, I saw when it took hold of her, and I have my suspicions about its source. Ronan moves his hand over her chest so close that I can see he brushes her breast. Anger, white hot and instant, flashes. I clench my jaw and my fists tighten. They'd best be careful. She's not dropping any hints, and they shouldn't get the wrong idea.
I can't get the feeling of her body pressing against mine out of my head. She is so perfect, one of God's greatest creations. I almost slipped, failing in my duty to protect her. Giving in to base desires.
It's a good thing that the mages showed up when they did. If she hadn’t been taken by that vision, I would've failed. The raspberry flesh of her lips so close to mine. I wouldn't have been able to resist.
"I'm just fine," Aviella complains, not for the first time.
I look away. Looking at her with the mages surrounding her makes my chest ache. I should put some space between the two of us but first I must get her somewhere safe.
Listening to her argue with the mages, I contemplate possible outcomes. Silas insists that Tynan won't harm her, and I believe him. He’s always been cautious. If he says something, you can count on his word. When we get to Bunker 3, I should take off. I’ve been ignoring my other duties for a while in favor of her. I know that the mages won't be far, and Efram and Silas will be with her as well.
And, as much as I hate to admit it, Rafe will be with her too. He's a formidable force in his own right. Despite being who and what he is.
I should be tracking down the other special wards. I can do that faster alone than traveling with a group. It would put me more on purpose with what I'm supposed to be doing. Yes, this is a plan.
"If you are quite finished, I think I'm ready to try to draw what I saw in the vision," Aviella says.
"I'll grab some paper," I say. "And Silas, he'll want to see this."
Chapter Five
Everyone watches as I sketch out the symbols the best I can. I’m no artist, but the shapes are there at least. As I finish the last one, my protectors lean in, jostling each other as they try to get a closer look. One by one they shake their heads, exchanging looks before they step back.
Standing in the circle of men, I feel the connection I have with each of them like a magnetic line between us. Pulsing, alive, and shifting with the passing moments. Each of them is attractive, in his own unique way, but it’s not their looks that draws me in. I’m bound to each of them. It’s undeniable, and if it would stop there, I’d have nothing to worry about, but it doesn’t. My life couldn’t be that simple, could it? Of course not. I’m me. Social outcast extraordinaire, who somehow ends up with a gaggle of men, all of whom fawn over me. They want me, and perhaps worse, I want them. Each of them or all of them.
It should be nice. Every girl’s fantasy, right? Yeah, sure, except the fantasy doesn’t include feelings or jealousy or worrying about what each of them thinks not only of me but each other. On one hand it doesn’t matter. I’ve not done anything with any of them. Well, I’ve been close with Rafe.
As if he’s reading my thoughts, the demon looks at me with a sparkle in his eye. Damn if that doesn’t turn me on. I love his carefree attitude. His approach to everything is that we’ve got this, no matter how grim it is.
Silas, studious, intelligent Silas stares at the symbols the longest. All of us watch him. He’s the librarian, the sexy librarian. That makes me giggle, and they look at me when it slips out. When they see me flushing with embarrassment, Rafe gives a slow grin and Gavin smirks.
I shrug, dodging the attention, my arms and cheeks burning hot. An image flashes fast through my thoughts of all of them surrounding me, like this, but with significantly less clothing on. My cheeks become an inferno.
Rafe slips closer, and once more I wonder if the demon is reading my thoughts. I tense as he places his hand on my lower back, a knowing look on his face. No, Rafe, no way. He can’t be in my head, can he? Damn it, get it under control, Aviella.
“I don’t know,” Silas speaks at long last.
The tension in the room deflates like a balloon losing all its air in one fast blast. I realize then all of us were hanging our hopes on Silas knowing what the symbols are. Damn it.
“We can consult our texts,” Killian offers.
“The symbols are ancient,” Gavin says.
“Yes, I know. I sense that much too, but I can’t place them,” Silas says.
The look on his face says it all. Admitting defeat is hard for him. Knowledge is his area, not knowing something bothers him, a lot.
“What’s a little mystery among friends?” Rafe jokes.
It does nothing to lighten the mood. Nathaniel and Efram step away from the group whispering to one another. The tension they’re feeling pulses in our connection.
“I have an idea of where to look,” Ronan says, crossing his arms over his chest and looking grim.
I wait for him to elaborate, but he doesn’t say anything further. Helpful, Ronan, real helpful.
“It doesn’t matter if that’s all you know, you need to tell them,” Efram says loud enough to draw everyone’s attention.
Nathaniel is tense, shoulders hunched, staring at the ground with his back to us. He shakes his head then slowly turns around and walks over to the table with the rough sketches I made. He touches one of them before meeting my eyes.
“They’re tied to your blood,” he says.
“I’d agree with that,” Silas adds.
“Okay…” I say, trailing off to encourage him to continue.
Nathaniel, being him, doesn’t say another word. Damn, that angel is frustrating as hell! I wonder if he shouldn’t actually be a demon!
“What does that actually mean, Nathaniel?” I ask.
“I do not know,” he says, shaking his head. “It’s something I… know.”
“Great, helpful,” I say, angrily.
“Maybe it is,” Killian says, jumping in. “It gives us another d
irection in which to research.”
“See, everything is coming together just fine!” Rafe says, ever the optimist.
Nathaniel glares while everyone else ignores his enthusiasm. Personally, I find it infectious. It’s one of the things about him that I find attractive. No matter how grim things look he finds a way to see the good in them. Weird, considering what he is, but I’ll take it.
Silence falls across our group, all of us staring at the strange symbols on the paper. Efram shakes his head at last throwing his hands up in frustration.
“It is what it is,” he says. “It might be a clue, but it does nothing to change our situation. We have to get Aviella out of here, away from the Dragons. They’re still looking for her above us, and the longer we hide down here, the more likely they are to figure out where she is. Once they have their hands on her, we’ll never see her again.”
“Right,” Nathaniel agrees with him.
Silas looks away, deep in his own thoughts.
“Are we any closer to an out?” Rafe asks.
“Tor is going to open a Crossing Point,” Silas says. “He’s gathering the last of the necessary materials.”
“A Crossing Point?” Killian asks, eyes widening. “That’s big magic, how in the nine hells is he going to pull that off and not have the Dragons right up your backsides?”
“We have a plan,” Silas says.
Something about the way he says it stops the conversation. Silas looks serious and willing to brook no one questioning him. Killian’s mouth opens like he’s going to argue but then snaps shut as he decides better of it.
“Okay, then,” Rafe says, but even he seems subdued.
“Guys,” I say. “It will be all right. I trust Tor. He’s smart, and he’s led the rebellion here for a long time, keeping his people safe and saving hundreds from the system above them. It’ll be okay.”
“Right,” Rafe says. “Now how about those symbols?” He points at the papers.
“I’m not sure there are any books left on Earth that will define them for us,” Nathaniel says.
“Yet you think they’re tied to her blood?” Ronan asks.
“Yes, that I’m sure of,” Nathaniel says. “They are ancient. Very, very ancient.”
“Then we’ll do what we can,” Gavin says. “Until then, we carry on.”
“Yay,” I say. “Carry on like nothing’s changed. Right.”
“Cheer up, beautiful,” Rafe says, placing an arm over my shoulders. “Look at all these fine specimens of manhood, all here to do your bidding. What more could a girl ask for?”
My cheeks become an inferno, as once more I’m left wondering if the demon is reading my thoughts, or I’m just that easy to read. I’ve got to get out of here, now.
“Yeah,” I choke out, my throat too tight for more words.
I turn and head for the door without a word, wanting nothing more than to get out of this uncomfortable situation.
“Be careful,” Nathaniel calls after me.
“Aren’t I always?” I ask, swallowing hard to force down the lump in my throat.
Chapter Six
“How’s Dorna?” I ask Nora.
Nora looks weary, and there’s a heaviness to her spirit. Dark circles under her eyes and the frown lines at the corners of her lips tell me a lot. She forces a smile, but it dies before fully forming.
“Better,” she says.
“Yeah?” I probe.
Nora sighs, shoulder slumping and head bowing. She stares at the ground between us for a long moment before she speaks.
“Yes,” she says at last. “She is better.”
“Good?” I make it a question. The fact she’s not telling me something is obvious.
Her shoulders shake then her whole body is trembling. Her hair hangs over, hiding her face. Seeing the woman like this, an ache throbs in my chest. I want to take her pain away. Warmth floods through my body as magic swells inside me. Instinctively, I place a hand on Nora’s arm, and through that connection her exhaustion rushes at me. It’s an overwhelming blackness, more than any person should ever have to face alone.
My hand faintly glows, magic pulsing as I push it out and into her. Nora looks up, eyes widening, mouth dropping open as the warmth of it pushes into her. A light ignites in her eyes as the weight on her eases. The corners of her lips twitch, then a smile forms. A full, real smile. The first I’ve seen from her.
“Wha-” she doesn’t finish the word, shaking her head and sighing. “Thank you.”
“It’s nothing,” I say, smiling.
On one hand it is, if for no other reason than I have no idea what I just did. It’d be great to actually know what I’m doing or feel like I’m in control. Efram and Silas always know exactly what they’re doing, what to expect when they weave magic. No such luck for me. I’m as likely to turn water to wine as I am to blow up the room I’m standing in.
It’s always been this way. Coming unbidden, feeding off my emotions and causing problems for me. The story of my life. Growing up I was so scared of my powers I called them it. The monster that came unbidden and created chaos around me. Now, understanding better what they are, I still think of them in mostly the same terms. They create as much chaos as they do good.
“Would you like something to eat?” Nora asks.
“Nah, I’m good,” I say. “I would like to see Dorna if I can.”
“Of course,” she says. “Tor is with her in her room. Please, go on in.”
Their home is small, of course, Bunkers have limited space, and an underground rebel base under the underground limits space even more. Tor looks over as soon as I enter the door, having heard my arrival.
“Hello,” he says, one hand resting on his daughter who’s lying in her bed.
“How is she?” I ask.
“Better,” he says, speaking softly.
Dorna’s chest rises and falls evenly and she snores lightly. A soft sheen of sweat covers her forehead but her color is so much better than when I saw her before so I’m sure she is getting better.
“Good,” I say, walking over to stand next to him. “Mind if I sit with her a bit?”
He frowns looking from his daughter to me. He’s going to say no, I think for a moment. Tor is like a bear with a cub, big and burly and not going to let anything happen.
“Yeah,” he says, rising to his feet. “I’ll get something to eat.”
“Cool,” I say, taking his place at her side.
Up close it’s obvious how much better she is doing. She’s still weak from the ravages of her illness but she’s no longer knocking on death’s door. Her eyes flutter open.
“How are you?” I ask.
“Better,” she says, her voice is hoarse but getting stronger. A half-smile lifts the corners of her lips.
“Good,” I reply.
“I had a dream last night,” she says.
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah,” she says, her eyes dropping away from mine as she frowns.
“What was it about?”
“You,” she responds.
“Me?” I ask, surprised. Maybe I shouldn’t be, I did save her life. She nods but doesn’t say anything. “So, what happened in your dream?”
“There was this… light. A tunnel thing and you were going through it…”
“Uh-huh,” I say encouraging her to continue.
“You broke through time but when you did there was a bad person waiting for you,” she says. “It’s evil. It’s trying to catch you.”
Cold chills run up and down my spine. Her words echo through my thoughts and the symbols I saw in my vision come to mind as well as the ones I’ve seen on the undead that I’ve fought already. Is there something behind all of this? A single force? My stomach sinks as I think about it. I’d assumed everything was just… I don’t know. Random? Chaos and my own bad luck. Surely it can’t be planned, can it? When are there too many coincidences for it to be a coincidence? What does she mean by breaking through time? Too many questions.<
br />
“Well it’s a dream, nothing to worry about, right?” I say, trying to keep my concerns out of my voice.
“I don’t think it was…”
“I know,” I say, leaning close to her and whispering in her ear. “But you know what? I got this.”
I muss her hair and smile. She looks up at me, eyes wide, and a slow smile forms on her face.
“Yeah,” she says, nodding. “You do.”
“Good, kiddo.”
“I need to check her vitals,” Nora says, startling both of us.
“Okay,” I say. “I’ll check in on you later, okay?”
“You promise?” she asks.
“You bet,” I say.
“Okay, good.”
My thoughts run in a circle as I leave their space. Something about her words ring deep inside. I feel truth in them. I’m so distracted I run into someone.
“Sorry-” I start looking up into Gavin’s grinning face.
“No problem,” he says, smiling from ear to ear. “I love it when a pretty girl wants to press up against me.”
“I didn’t-” I start, cheeks burning.
His energy envelops me, intertwining with mine and I swear it feels as intimate as if he was exploring my depths physically, somehow more intimate. My body responds to it as I would to the touch of a lover. Flushing hot, core tightening, desire clouding rational thought. My mouth is dry, and I can’t form words out of the chaos of thoughts spinning around. If he’s here, he can’t be alone…
Yup, there they are. The other three mages are fanning out behind him, all of them looking at me. Their energies pulse against me, filling my head with crazy thoughts, wild, insane ideas of what it might be like to give myself to my most carnal desires. If all four of them were focused on my pleasure…
Aviella!
Mentally I force myself to focus. Stupid, crazy thoughts, why do they make me feel this way?
“What are you doing here?” I snap, anger helping me get control of my runaway mind.
He looks past my shoulder, so I follow his gaze and see Dorna.
Apocalypse the Blossoming (The Power of Twelve Book 2) Page 3
