Again, not something I want to hear. “I’m going to take over reading the oracle,” my mother announces as if she just received some intergalactic conference call. “Elijah must repent and redeem himself three times before he can receive his grace back.” Her shoulders relax as if now she can finally ease her worries a little more. “He’s going easy on him, that’s a very good sign for us.”
They all nod their heads with her. “Why is that a good sign?” I ask feeling as if I missed the obvious.
“This... You, you’re our one shot to help man. He’s letting us take the lead, so if he’d punished Elijah harshly, it would have meant we were failing,” she explains.
“It still won’t be all that easy. He’ll have to redeem himself despite being controlled by a powerful evil force, which will take all of our help and then some,” my mother chimes in.
“It’s going to take all of us and then some to make sure he doesn’t murder the love of his life,” Elena slips in. I stare at her with half-lidded eyes. She slips on a sly smile. “Could be worse, he could possess Sam and then kill you.”
“No one’s killing anyone. Elena, really,” my mother chastises her without ever raising her voice.
Having spoiled the mood, they all decide to get me back home –in my hotel room anyway. I hug my mother good-bye and board the platform with my two new Keepers. Here’s hoping we all come out of this one alive.
The three of us appear back in my hotel room in a second. The room is just as I left it, the balcony door is wide open and a strong gust of wind blasts into the room. The memories of Malphas flood back to me and I sink to the bed, suddenly weak in the knees.
“Bren, are you alright?” Elena asks, her voice a far cry from her usual indifferent tone with a hint of, get-over-yourself, sprinkled on top for good measure.
“No, but I will be.” If Sam picks up the phone. I don't have any missed calls and that's not like him at all. I’ven't spoken with him since yesterday. I try his number again. “Sam’s not answering his phone.”
“I'll call Will, maybe something happened to his phone.” Inara offers.
“Or maybe Elijah happened to stroll by and murder him,” I'm quick to quip out. They both turn and stare at me like it's a plausible scenario.
“He could always plea that the devil made him do it.” Elena decides to one-up me. I give her a daggered expression and shake my head at her. Inara's ear is pressed to a phone and I'm crossing my fingers that everything is fine. Please be fine Sam. Inara hangs up and shakes her head. A little v appears between her brows causing my stomach to roll over in waves.
“What? What is it?”
“I can't reach him. I'm sure it's nothing.”
“I’ve to get home, now!” Panic flooding through my veins at the speed of God. I grab hold of Elena's shoulders and give her a desperate pleading look.
“Absolutely not, it could be a trap. We have to find out what's going on before you get your panties in a twist, so take a seat.” She whips around and they both disappear before my eyes as I hear the door being unlocked. Guess I made it back just in time.
“You look like you just saw a ghost. Did we scare you coming in?”
I nod and try and wipe the look of sheer panic from my face. I pace the small space between the beds and dressers as I try other numbers to reach Sam. My hands start to shake as every last one goes straight to voicemail. If he's not dead, I'm going to kill him. The room phone rings at a heart stopping decibel and I pick it up.
“May I speak with Brennen Hale please?” a chirpy young woman asks.
“Speaking.”
“Ma'am you have a package down in guest services.”
“Thank you.”
Oh my god, the devil's probably shipped me Sam's head in a box, or some other vital appendage. I let my roommates know I'm going down to the lobby. They're busy showing off their hoards of I love New York souvenirs and barely notice as I slip out.
In the elevator, Elena and Inara appear scaring the beajezus out of me. I grip the steel rail as insurance. “I'm going to have to get you two a bell to wear around your necks.” They pay no mind to my quip instead looking as if they’re concentrating hard on something else. As the elevator car reaches the first floor the both look more relaxed. Perhaps, angels don't like elevators?
Behind the counter, stands two employees, in their navy jackets and red scarves. “How may I help you?” the man asks in a very feminine voice.
“Do you have a package for Brennen Hale?” He smiles warmly up at me and points to a large wingback chair. I look over and all I can see is part of someone’s legs dressed in jeans and I immediately recognize Sam's black scuffed boots from here.
I rush over to him. Inara and Elena blend into the many guest in the lobby. “Sam?” I call out to make sure it's really him. I've had enough surprises for a lifetime. He emerges from behind the chair, gracing the room with his beauty. He's alive, he's here! I throw my arms around him and he does the same, twirling me around once.
His lips cover mine with desperation, as if he was starving for my kiss for weeks and now he getting his fill. My fear melts away as I indulge right along with him. We're lost in each other, the murmur of the crowd melts away and it's just the two of us. He finally breaks away, breathless and dreamy-eyed.
“Surprise,” he says tenderly. I smile up at him with my hand still on his chest. His heart pounding out beneath my hand like some wild Indian rain dance. Something catches my eye and I look out the plate glass window.
Staring back at me, amidst the pouring rain, is Elijah. He's drenched from head to toe, though it looks as if he can't feel it. Water drips over his face and down his nose. His white shirt clings to his body revealing the chiseled chest under it as if it were covered in vellum. The look on his face is one of pure malice, and a cold shiver runs down my back.
I’ve evaded death one too many times and yet I know it’s coming for me. I can feel it. Perhaps it’s hiding behind sapphire eyes. I glance back at Sam. Or perhaps the tender brown eyed gaze watching me with care, will snatch it up when I least expect it. In either case, my life has just become hinged upon how well I’m being protected right this very second and every moment that these two men are near me.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 ~ Strengths
Chapter 2 ~ Field Trip
Chapter 3 ~ Stolen
Chapter 4 ~ Destiny
Chapter 5 ~ Amends
Chapter 7 ~ Replaced
Chapter 9 ~ Yellow Roses
Chapter 10 ~ A muck
Chapter 11 ~ Stable-ized
Chapter 12 ~ Marked
Chapter 13 ~ Ellison
Chapter 14 ~ Decisions
Chapter 15 ~ Bliss
Chapter 16 ~ Escapade
Chapter 17 ~ Truth or Dare
Chapter 18 ~ Clear
Chapter 19 ~ Repeat as Needed
Chapter 20 ~ Remember Me
Chapter 21 ~ Justice
Chapter 22 ~ All Things Equal
My Soul to Take (Soul Keepers (Young Adult paranormal romance)) Page 20
