by Cameo Renae
I’d screamed, told him to stop, and pushed him away. He’d become furious, eyes darkening, as spittle had flown from his mouth when he shouted he could’ve had any girl in the school, and I should’ve been happy he’d chosen me.
Asshole. I wasn’t just any girl, and his actions sealed the deal for me wanting any guy like him ever again.
“I think you’ll manage just fine,” I finally said to Alex. “Besides, I’m not the girlfriend type. But I’m sure Trissa and Kimi would snag up that scapegoat opportunity in a second.”
Alex grinned and shook his head. “The offer is invalid with anyone else.”
I stopped and turned to him. “Why me? I don’t even know you.”
“I don’t know. I’m a pretty good judge of character, and I feel like you’re a good person. I know we don’t know each other, but I’d like to hang out with you and your group. If that’s okay. There’s no pressure. I’m just the new guy, looking for some friends.”
I laughed. “Of course, you can hang out with us. I know the others will be thrilled.”
“Just the others?”
“Well, I think it’ll be cool too.” My insides were twisting like crazy.
“Thank you.” The cutest damn smile rose on his lips. “And if you ever need a scapegoat, I’m at your service. As a friend.”
“Thanks.” Heat rushed to my cheeks. Something told me I might be in trouble with this one.
Chapter 7
Alex
I didn’t have much time to get her to trust me. She appeared taken aback by my forwardness, but she also seemed pleasantly surprised, and her group was excited to include me in their plans.
My job was to protect her, to keep an eye out, and make sure there weren’t any Darkling roaming the nearby woods. I’d checked the woods before sunrise, and there were no hints of the stinkers. I’d check again after third period.
If there were any traces of Darkling, I’d have to assess how many. I could handle a few on my own, but if any of the Fallen were involved, I’d need backup. I just had to be smart and cautious.
First period was uneventful. I took a seat near Eden, but we didn’t talk much. The teacher was strict.
After the first bell rang, I grabbed my bag and stood up, and saw Eden waiting for me at the door. I headed toward her, only to find my path blocked by a girl.
“Hi, Alex. My name is Clarisse.” Her head tilted to the side as she bit her lip. She pushed a strand of blonde hair out of her face and extended her hand.
“Hi, Clarisse. Nice to meet you.” I tried to move around her, but she grabbed my arm.
“Hey, if you ever want to hang out sometime, let me know.” Her eyes were filled with lust.
“Thanks,” I replied, trying to be kind. “I’ve got to get to the next class. My escort is waiting,” I said, gesturing to Eden.
Clarisse’s face twisted as she looked at Eden. “Are you two seeing each other?”
“No. We just met. She’s in most of my classes, so I asked her if she could take me around today.”
“Oh.” I could feel the jealousy rolling off Clarisse; good thing it wasn’t my problem.
“If you need a study buddy, I’m also available. I’ll be in the cafeteria at lunch if you need anything.”
“Thank you. I don’t believe I’ll be needing your services.”
Clarisse glared at Eden, who smiled and waved back like nothing was going on.
“If you’d excuse me, I don’t want to be late.” I slipped away from her grasp and out the door.
In the hallway, I could hear Eden giggling softly behind me.
“I’m assuming she’s a wolf?” I asked, twisting my head back to see her reaction.
Her smile was adorable. “Yep. And she’s not even that bad. A puppy, compared to the others.”
I tried to look surprised, although I knew the type. I’d been guarding for nearly a hundred years and had a few dozen assignments in high school. And playing dumb let her get a little closer, as she helped me spot the wolves.
“What should I be looking for?”
“There are two hundred twenty-seven girls and one-hundred thirty-one boys here at Brindle Hall. The ratio is off, and many of the boys here are immature. There aren’t many senior boys, so when a guy looking like you walks in, things can get brutal. They did it to Sebastian until they found out he was gay. And there are still a handful who are relentless and think they can turn him.”
“What should I do?”
“I think the girlfriend back home is still an excellent idea.” She wiggled her brow, and we both laughed.
I was thankful she was willing to help. “I think that’s a good idea. If you can help me spread the word, that would be most helpful.”
“If they ask, I’ll tell them. But everyone knows I keep to myself.”
“Even if it’s to help ward off the wolves?”
She smiled. “I’ll tell my friends. Between the three of them, everyone in this school will know by this evening. I won’t even tell them it’s fake. If they believe it, they’ll make sure others know. But be warned, they’ll ask you a million questions about her.”
“So, I have to come up with a name for my girlfriend back home?”
“Yep, and a few details…like where you met, how long you’ve been going out, how old she is, where she’s going to school, and how she feels about you boarding here.”
I shook my head, laughing. This was ridiculous. “It seems much easier to say I’m gay.”
“Cheerful and lively?” she asked with a wide grin.
“Of course.”
Her laughter filled the hallway, and it was the most beautiful sound. “Your secret’s safe with me.”
Even though everyone was staring, she didn’t let it bother her. “Thank you, Eden.”
“No problem,” she replied. “We need to head down a floor for our next class. Mr. Malcom is strict about promptness.”
“Any wolves I should be aware of?”
Her brow furrowed. “You’ll recognize them as soon as you step into the room. If you don’t show any interest and don’t make eye contact, they might leave you alone.” She stopped and turned back to me and shrugged. “Unless you’re interested in one of them.”
“No. I’m here to finish school and graduate.”
“Where will you go next?”
“Family business, I guess.” An obvious answer.
She nodded and offered a sweet smile. “That’s cool. We’re here.”
The classroom was much brighter than the last because it had windows facing the sun. But by the end of class, rumbling gray clouds had moved in, making the afternoon overcast.
Being in Washington, the clouds, rain, and fog weren’t going to help my assignment. The Darkling never used to come out during the day, but recently—on a previous assignment—I’d seen them attack during the day, in overcast weather. They were getting braver and more desperate.
I hoped that wasn’t the case here. With the change in weather, I would talk to Ephraim while she was safe inside the school. I wanted to be back before she had to go outside for physical education and was an open target.
The Darkling were a bit like Watchers. They lived in the darkest places, away from human eyes. The very few mortals who were unfortunate enough to run into a Darkling never lived. It was their code, to stay hidden. Kill anyone who sees them.
The Darkling were scavengers, used as pawns by the Fallen. They did their dirty work, and in return, were promised things only Darkling would want.
But just in case, I would be watching, making sure she was safe.
***
As soon as third period ended, I said goodbye to Eden and told her I’d meet her for lunch. Then I made my way outside and entered the woods.
“Al
ex.” Isaac stepped out from behind a tree. “The portal is about fifty yards ahead, between two spruce trees.”
“Thanks,” I replied. “I’ll need you to be here when I exit. I have some important news to share.”
Isaac gave a nod and slipped back into the shadows. Watchers were so strange.
I found the portal and as soon as I stepped through, I was surrounded by dozens of Guardians in the Midway waiting room, all waiting for their next assignments. I did a quick scan but didn’t see Thomas. Maybe he’d finally been sent on an assignment.
Walking up to Ephraim’s doors, I told the guard standing outside I needed to see him…it was an emergency. After a few moments, the large double doors opened automatically. I walked into the massive room where Ephraim sat at his desk with a feather quill in hand, writing on some parchment.
He glanced up at me. “Alexander, back so soon?”
“Yes, I have some information about Eden East.”
Placing his quill back into the inkwell, his eyes narrowed. “Go ahead.”
“She’s Nephilim,” I stated.
“Nephilim?” He nearly choked on the word. “What makes you think so?”
“Her essence is angelic.”
“Are you sure?” His brow furrowed.
“I’m positive.”
Ephraim stood and walked over to a large filing cabinet. “How could she have slipped through?” His words were more to himself.
“I couldn’t even tell until this morning because her room was filled with too many different scents. Which, by the way, was a pretty lame-ass place to send me last night.”
Ephraim tried to hide a chuckle, then turned and answered with a straight face. “The portals don’t always open where we’d like them to.”
“Bull crap. Just remember, what goes around, comes around.”
Ephraim ignored me, fingering through more files. “Her mother is mortal, but there is no record of her father. We need to find out who he is. You need to find her angelic mark. It’s located on—“
“The back of her neck. I know.” I wondered if Ephraim ever went out in the field.
“Yes. Of course you do,” he exhaled. “This case has become urgent. Because she is Nephilim, the girl will need to be protected until her transformation. If that Darkling caught any scent of her, he will go to the Fallen. If the Fallen get involved, her life will be in grave danger. You know how much the Fallen hate Nephilim.”
“Even after Lucian’s death?” Lucian, the old Fallen leader, had given the decree to rid the world of all Nephilim after one of them killed his ally.
The hate of the Nephilim ran deep and unwavering within the Fallen. Even now that Lucian was gone, their deep seeded hatred must have continued.
“Yes, I’m afraid. Even now.”
“Do you think I’ll need backup?”
“If you do, I’ll send it. But for now, we really don’t know what we’re up against. We’re not even sure the Darkling caught her scent.”
“How will I find that out?”
“You’ll need to find a way to get the information from her. You’ll need to get her to trust you.”
I nodded and headed back to the portal.
“Alex.” Ephraim stopped me. “She’ll be going through her transformation in eleven days. You’ll need to be there for her.”
I sighed. This assignment was going to be harder than expected. “Too bad Emma can’t help her. She went through the same thing.”
“That would be ideal, but Emma is not a Guardian.”
“She should be.”
“She’s been through a lot, and is probably still recovering from the chaos of the past year.”
Frustrated, I let out a small groan. “There should have been a female Guardian on this assignment.”
“There isn’t a female available. This is your assignment, and I suggest you make do.”
“You know I will.”
“Yes. I have no doubt in you, Alexander. Just keep her alive until her transformation. I’ll try and see what information I can gather on her missing father. Meanwhile, try and find her mark and let me know if you locate the Darkling.”
I nodded. I knew I had a hell of a task ahead. Nothing I couldn’t handle, but I’d have to be extra careful knowing she was Nephilim.
As I made my way back through the portal and exited the woods, Isaac stepped into view.
I nodded and went right into it. Watcher’s appreciated brevity. “Isaac, the girl who had the run-in with the Darkling…I found out she’s Nephilim.”
“Nephilim?” The only hint of shock was in his voice.
“Yes. Have you seen any recent Darkling activity in the area?”
“No. I haven’t seen a Darkling in the forest since I arrived here.”
“Shit. That most likely means it went to the Fallen with the news. Would you be able to relay the information to Ephraim? Tell him we will need a barrier of protection around the school. It won’t keep the Darkling out, but at least the Fallen won’t be able to cross.”
Isaac nodded, then proceeded through the portal and disappeared.
I pulled my sword from my bag and made my way through the woods surrounding the school, sniffing the air for any hints of Darkling or Fallen. The only smells prevalent were earth and trees—no traces of evil.
Convinced there wasn’t a current threat, I headed back to the school.
I’d told Eden I would meet them for lunch, and if I was to gain her trust, I’d have to keep my word. I was already running a bit behind schedule.
Chapter 8
Eden
I was quickly finding out that Alex was not only handsome, but had a great sense of humor too. To top it off, he didn’t seem to have an interest in any of the girls who desperately threw themselves at him; handling their advances with tact. I was impressed. Although, today was his first day.
He seemed like a nice guy, and genuinely thankful for my help. But, like all the other guys, only time would tell.
I was glad he wasn’t looking for a relationship though. I didn’t want things to be awkward. Up until now, I’d managed just fine on my own. I was waiting for that one special guy I could spend the rest of my life with, something like my grandparents had. That was my life goal.
I still couldn’t get over Alex’s cologne, and how the exact scent had permeated my room the night before. There had to be an explanation. Maybe it was a new brand and one of the girls next door had a boyfriend who wore it. The smell was wonderful, and I had to know the brand, because it was my new favorite.
After my fourth period math class, I headed down to the cafeteria. A bump on my shoulder made me turn to see Clarisse walking past at a brisk pace. She was being her usual bitchy self and was probably upset Alex turned her down in first period. I brushed it off, and then told myself to let it go. I didn’t want to get into stupid tiffs. I had no time or energy for the drama.
As I entered the cafeteria, Kimi and Sebastian were in line for lunch, so I joined them.
“Where’s Trissa?” I asked.
Kimi sighed. “Her dad wanted to talk to her, so she said she’d meet us after.”
Trissa was boarding at Brindle Hall because of her father, Mr. Moore. He was a history teacher here, and my favorite. His class was never boring, and he was very boisterous and animated. He actually made learning fun.
Sebastian’s eyes swept the cafeteria. “Where’s Alex?”
“He had some paperwork to complete. But he said he was going to meet us for lunch.”
“He is? That’s cool,” Kimi chimed. “How were his first classes?”
“He survived. Barely.” I giggled. “There are a few girls who are pissed he didn’t give them the time of day.”
“Who?” Sebastian leaned in, wanting th
e details.
I proceeded to tell them as we made our way through the line. Today’s lunch was spaghetti. I loved spaghetti, so I filled my plate.
“Girl, what is up with you?” Sebastian asked, giving me an eye.
“I don’t know, but I’ve been starving lately.”
“We’ve noticed. Maybe you have worms.” He deftly avoided the half-hearted smack I tried to give him.
“Eww, Sebastian. Don’t ever say things like that before we eat,” Kimi scolded. Her eyes narrowed on him. “Maybe she’s having a growth spurt.”
“It could be stress, from something I saw last night on my way back to the dorms,” I blurted.
“What’d you see?” Sebastian pressed, placing his tray on the table.
“Wait. Why haven’t you mentioned this yet? What did you see?” Kimi asked.
Dammit, I should have waited. I knew they wouldn’t let me wait for Trissa.
I put my tray on the table and sat down. As I leaned in, they automatically moved closer. “I really don’t know exactly what it was, but it was a creature of some sort.”
Kimi gasped. “Like an animal?”
“No. It was more human-like. It had black eyes, sharp teeth, and long claws. It was over six-foot tall, and it smelled horrible. Like something worse than death.”
“You’re joking, right? This is just a creature from one of those books you’re always going on about.” Kimi looked at me like I was mad.
Sebastian’s perfectly plucked brows raised. “If it was real, how are you still alive?”
I regretted saying anything.
“I shot it with pepper spray, then Bob the security guard came.”
“Bob the Glob came to your rescue?” His eyeballs were in danger of falling out of his head.
“Yes. And don’t call him that anymore. He saved me.”
Kimi shared a look with Sebastian, then turned back to me. “Are you sure you weren’t dreaming?”
The more I spoke, the more they would discredit me. Besides, the creature I’d described could have been in several of my paranormal books. Shaking my head, I sighed. “I don’t know. It could have been a dream.”
