He felt her as she leapt and landed gracefully onto the solid earth. Then he felt the wind on her face as she ran, swiftly changing direction whenever the notion hit her.
“What is it?” Cal asked.
Alex relayed, as if reading a message. “Coralie – she's leaving, Sir.”
He was reading her.
“Alex –” Cal began to give orders, but was too late.
“I'm on it!” Alex said, before Cal could finish and swiftly darted in the direction of Coralie's travel.
Chapter 26
As Coralie ran, feeling the wind against her skin, her mind drifted to a conversation she'd had with her father. Of course, this conversation taking place long before she had taken this crazy notion to run off by herself. Allowing her subconscious to take her where it may. Her father’s words continued to trace through her thoughts. “When we had you, we knew how important your life was … we knew we had to protect you, especially with the chance that Xander might find out about you. But, of course, we can't be with you twenty-four-seven, can we?”
She shook her head, seemingly beginning to understand more and more as her dad spoke.
“So, I did the only thing that I could … I assigned a Protector to you...”
“A Protector?”
“Yes, a Protector...”
“So, what ... I have someone who stalks me all day?”
“If by 'stalks', you mean 'follows and protects you from harm', then yes ... I knew this Protector would take better care of you than anyone else in the world.”
“So, this Protector … he’s like my bodyguard, right?”
“Sort of, but it’s much different than that. This Protector would always be there, even when I couldn't … and be an extra hand when I could. He is always there with you, you just don't know it.”
“Dad, there are still so many things that I don't know about this life.”
“I know, honey, and you'll never know how much I regret keeping this from you, how much I regret not telling you. Not telling you has been the hardest thing I've ever done.”
“Tell me, Dad. Tell me what I should know, what I need to know.”
“There's just so much. I almost don't know where to start.”
“Anywhere, Dad. It's not like I've got a lot to go on here.”
“Right – well, how about Encounters? You seem to have had a few run-ins with those lately.”
“Encounters? What sort of Encounters?”
“Coralie, you will Encounter all sorts of Beings out there in our world. We are Empyreal Warriors from the Angel Bloodlines ... we are the good guys. We hunt, fight, and battle the bad guys.”
“I get it. Good versus Evil, right?”
“Yeah, Good versus Evil. Now, we've had a few good guys turn bad.”
“Rogue Warriors?”
“Right, but we've also had some bad guys turn good.”
“They can do that? The bad guys, I mean?”
“Not all of them, of course – but yes, some do – and that's when they become part of the Treaty.”
“A treaty? Like an agreement?”
“Yes – the Empyreal Treaty says that any one Being of whom wants to be good and remain that way, shall by the Blessing of the Angel ... of those Blessed shall be protected by the Warriors ... but he whosoever crosses the Treaty, diminishes all immunity and falls from that protection.”
“So, what happens if –”
“If such a Cross should happen ... in certainty, this would result in a Hunt, a Capture, and a Trial by the Elders.”
“Then, what happens?”
“Well – they either get sentenced to some sort of time punishment or –”
Coralie stopped him. “Gotcha Dad –”
“Cor, honey – you're gonna have to get a stronger stomach than that.”
“Sorry, I'm a work in progress...” Coralie paused. “So, this is some serious stuff here? With the Elders, I mean?”
“Yes, the Elders take these things very serious.”
“So, what about these Beings? What type of Beings are we talking about here?”
Nonchalantly, Cal spoke. “Oh, you know, the usual – Beasts, Mutants, Vamps, and Weres ... some Faere folk, though most are within the Treaty ... Witches, Wizards and Warlocks ... and of course, there are a few Hybrids.”
“Wait a minute – you're telling me that ... no, this has to be ... I mean, this is like fairytale stuff, right? This is stuff that I used to read about in storybooks.” Coralie continued to blunder her phrases, unable to make sense of it all. “This can't be ... I mean, these Beings, they can't ... they just don't exist in the real world.”
“They do in this world, Coralie ... Kiddo, these things that surround you now ... they've always been there … you've just been shielded from it for so long.” Cal paused to give a slight smirk. “I don't know how much of your memory is coming back or how much recollection you've been able to store away and bring back to the surface – but if there are any detailed memories underlying in there, you are going to flip when you see some of our friends and colleagues in their true identity.”
“What? Do you have friends that are vampires or werewolves or something?” Coralie asked sarcastically.
Cal laughed at his daughter's sarcasm. “Maybe one or two...”
“You're kidding, right???”
Cal just shook his head, allowing a grin to spread across his face. “Kiddo, Thessla is not any ordinary town. Thessla is a joint residence in which Empyreal Warriors have built and reside here, along with a few of those that are protected by us. It’s somewhat our Safe Haven...”
“Safe Haven? Dad, someone is trying to kill me.”
“Well, there are a few Beings and Rogues that cross into Thessla from time to time for reasons such as this...”
“Reasons such as ... me...”
“Well, some are Messengers, some are Watchers, some are Trackers, and some –”
“... are Hunters...”
“Where did you hear that?”
“I heard you on the phone the other night, with Mr. Cumberlin I think, or maybe it was one of the Elders ... I didn’t know exactly what it meant at the time, but now ... I have a pretty good idea.”
“Yes, there are Hunters ... but Coralie, you have a lot of people out there protecting you, and there are a lot of eyes out there watching you.”
The latter was what scared Coralie the most.
* * * * *
Before she had realized, Coralie had made it all the way to the trail entrance that Court had brought her to that led them to Empyreal Lake.
Coralie looked around. It was dark. And she was alone. But not afraid.
Surely, she could find the lake by herself. Coralie felt a pull, a need, to find it. Almost as if it had a string tied to her. She could feel the tug on her soul. She began to push her way through the brush along the tree-lined road.
“Hey, Coralie. Whatcha doing?”
Startled, Coralie jumped back and stifled a scream by clasping her mouth shut with her own hands.
“Oh, I'm sorry,” Alex said, quickly. “I didn't mean to scare you.”
Trying to calm herself, Coralie took a deep breath. It didn't work. “How did you know? Wait a minute … are you following me?”
Quickly, trying to reassure her that he was of no harm to her, Alex said, “No – well sort of...” Alex realized that was of no help, then began to stumble over his words. “Okay ... I know that sounded a little strange, but –”
“A little strange???” Coralie questioned, repressing her panic.
“It’s not what you may think...”
“So, what is it, then?”
“Well, you see, I was walking, on my way to Tino's, to grab a late night bite to eat. I saw you running. I called after you, but you didn't seem to hear me. I thought maybe you might not want to be bothered, but something told me to follow you...” Alex paused, in hopes he had eased her suspicions. “So, am I following you? Technically, yes ... but not in a crazy
, stalker kind of way.” When his hopes were confirmed by a slight smile sliding across her lips, Alex continued. “Just curious ... where are you going, anyway?”
“Would you believe that I like to take late night hikes in the woods???” Coralie asked, playfully.
Looking skeptical, Alex replied, “I don't know. Maybe. But I think I know better than that...”
“Maybe, maybe not. What on earth would make you think otherwise?”
“Well, I do know that you have very strong feelings about lone hikers. And, of course, there is the matter of the bears...”
“The bears, of course...”
“You know, they do like to come out at night. You have to be careful out there.”
“Oh right...” Coralie said, smiling, “So, can we leave it at 'I had an insane moment, but now I'm back from Crazyville’???”
Alex beamed a smile, letting a chuckle escape before asking, “You hungry?”
“Starving.” Coralie confessed, realizing she'd never eaten upon return to her house after walking out on dinner with her parents.
That seemed like ages ago.
“Let's go grab that bite...” Alex said, coaxing her in the restaurant's direction.
“Well, maybe I shouldn’t – I should probably get home.”
“Come on, it's fine. I can't let a crazy girl go hungry, now can I?” Alex coaxed playfully.
“Well, I guess not, but...” Coralie wavered.
“Come on...”
Coralie dawdled.
Alex motioned, coercing her in the direction of Tino's Pizzeria.
After a few moments, Coralie finally agreed. She began their trek toward the restaurant, walking closely to him.
Chapter 27
Court stood watching the two of them through the window. Though there were two of them sitting at the restaurant's black and white checkerboard table, Court only concerned himself with one.
Her.
He only wanted to make certain that she would be okay. That she wasn't amongst any harm. But then again, what was his worry? She was with him. Her safety was his duty. That fact didn't stop his worries. It only brought on more worrisome feelings to the surface.
Court knew Coralie. He knew her heart. He knew that he shouldn't have these insecure feelings, but they were there just the same.
He watched them smile and laugh as they chatted as new friends. He watched Coralie as she sat across from someone whom he loathed so much.
Coralie sat unknowing. So beautiful. So innocent.
She had no idea who sat across from her sharing a medium Tino's Italian Pie.
But Court did.
Court knew all about him. Where he had come from. Where he had been. What he was here for now. Wasn't that just like him – to come around, show himself now, and try to swoop in and – ah, who did he think he was kidding, anyway, Court thought to himself. With the Blood that he had running through his veins, a person may tend to think that one's thoughts would be more pure of heart. Must have been some mutation in the bloodline or a mix-up at birth ... Court chuckled at his own childish thought.
Court had let his mind wander. Had he let it wander too far? Had he almost lost track of why he was there in the first place?
No. Never.
He could never let her out of his sights. She meant too much to him. Though she had a Protector, no one could assure Coralie's safety, as far as Court was concerned, but himself.
Then almost as if he had heard the challenge, Alex turned his head, looked out of the window into the eyes of a familiar foe. Someone he had known most, if not all of his life. I know you can hear my thoughts, Court heard. Now, back-off friend.
Court nodded with a continuance of his challenging eyes and Alex nodded back acceptingly with a glare.
Coralie started to turn in the direction of Alex's line of sight. But when she did, her eyes saw nothing but the darkness of night. Darkness only slightly illuminated by Tino's red glowing sign, strategically placed outside of the restaurant’s window. Court had slipped quickly into the shadows, knowing that Alex, though loathing him all the time, wouldn't give him away.
“What were you looking at just now?” Coralie asked, suspiciously. She knew that she had looked out into night and saw only darkness. But she also felt someone's presence. Someone was out there.
“What?”
“I saw you look out of the window, just now. You nodded, as if you were acknowledging someone.”
Alex shrugged the notion off as if it were nothing.
“Was someone out there? Watching us?”
Alex grinned. “I've told you before, you never know who may be out there watching you. But for now, I wouldn't worry too much about that.”
“It just seems a little creepy out there, you know … I just can’t shake the feeling that someone’s out there.”
“Trust me. You're safe with me. I promise...”
Coralie allowed a grin to sweep across her lips. She allowed this, knowing that Alex was right. That he spoke of nothing other than truth. Somehow she knew that she was safe with him. Somehow she knew was able to forget about everything around her.
Alex stared at her with charmed eyes. This gave Coralie a sense of familiarity and comfort.
Coralie watched as the corners of his mouth drew upward as he spoke of something familiar. His eyes gleamed as he laughed at her jokes. She noticed that nonchalantly taped the side of his glass, half-filled with iced tea, almost harmonious with her nervous finger tapping of the tiled table.
He smiled as he caught her studying him. “What?”
Coralie's cheeks filled with red, knowing she had been caught. She shrugged nervously. She didn't want to tell him that her thoughts were consumed with his every characteristic, his every feature in detail. For whatever reason, she didn't want to lie to him, either. “Sorry...”
“For what?”
“Just studying you now ... it's just that you are so, I don't know, familiar to me.”
“Familiar, huh?”
“Yeah, it's like I know you from somewhere in my past or something.”
“Well, you know, we did just meet a few hours ago ... maybe the short time lapse, mixed with your escape to Crazyville, is just too much for you to handle.”
Smiling, Coralie said, “Yeah, that's probably it...” Then she paused for a moment to change the subject. “So, where are you from, anyway? I mean, I know that you said that you were travelling, and that you were here visiting your grandparents. But where are your parents? Do they get visits too?” She paused, giving Alex a chance to answer. When he didn't, she added, “I mean, I’m just wondering where you grew up?”
“Funny, not too far from here. My parents have been gone a long time, a very long time...” Alex hesitated in his words, but Coralie didn't dare interrupt with another question for fear he'd stop without detail. “A family friend took me in for a while, they were really great. They took really good care of me.” Coralie's confused look prompted Alex to add, “I would visit with my grandparents quite frequently then, too. They traveled a lot - that's one of the reasons why I couldn't live with them.”
Seemingly, by the look on her face, he had answered a question, so he continued. “Now, don’t get me wrong … they always took time with me when they were in town. So, maybe it runs in the blood, this love for travel. As I got a little bit older, I began to catch the travel bug, myself. So, now that my grandparents have slowed their pace a bit, I try to repay them with as frequent a visit as I can.”
“That's nice of you...” Coralie said, allowing her thoughts to become words.
Not giving her a chance to regret speaking aloud, Alex jumped back in, with a smile. “Yeah … well, you know, I'm just that kind of guy...”
She returned his smile, then allowed it to fade, as she moved into what she thought may be a sketchy sort of territory. She began to gather her words, choosing very carefully, as she did not know what Alex's reaction may be to her next question. Stumbling to find the right words, she fina
lly managed to say, “Alex, I'm sorry, about your parents, I mean –”
“It’s okay,” Alex said, shrugging nonchalantly.
“But Alex –”
“Really … I know where they are...”
Coralie looked at him again with confused eyes. Alex smirked, and with a glimmer in his eyes.
“So, you used to live around here? I have lived here most all of my life and I can't remember –” she cut herself off, trying to find words. “I mean, I would have thought that I would remember you.”
“Yeah, well, let's just say, that I tend to blend well into the background.”
“What does that mean?”
“Just that I have quite a way with making myself invisible to those around me.”
Something in his words made her question further. Was he like her? Did he know about her? About this life? “I don't see how … I mean, you say that you can make yourself invisible … what does that mean?” she paused, trying to downplay the questioning motives in her voice, then asked, “What? Do you have some sort of special powers or something?”
“Your check –” said the waitress, interrupting them by sitting the ticket in between the two of them.
Alex smiled. “Nothing special, I guess, just the ability to fuse into the backdrop.”
Coralie eyed him strangely. “So, this family friend, do you still keep in touch?”
With a humored sigh, Alex replied, “Yeah, a lot more now, it seems, than we used to...” then trying to change the subject, Alex looked down at his watch and said, “Wow, would you look at the time...”
“What about it?”
“11:30, almost midnight...”
Coralie tried to soften her questioning glower, but she had a feeling that attempt was unsuccessful. Instead of questioning him agreeably, like she knew that she wanted to, she let out words that had defensive written all over them. “What? Are you going to turn into a pumpkin, or something?”
Alex leaned in across the table, sensing her defense rising. “I like you, Coralie ... that is, I enjoy your company and I like spending time with you.”
Empyreal: Awaken - Book One Page 17
