by Megan Linski
And I don’t really want to. I’m scared of the angel in him. “Dad…”
Dad’s eyes flicker to the fake wings hanging on the closet door. I left them there on Halloween and they’ve been there ever since. His rage only grows. “You’re wasting your talent! Is this what your mother sacrificed for?” he roars. “Is this what she gave up her life for you to do? To go to parties and make friends?”
“It was only one party,” I whimper.
“It doesn’t matter! No parties!” Roman grabs the wings off the door and tears them in half. He throws them on the floor and the synthetic feathers go fluttering everywhere. “No foolishness! No frivolity!”
Roman points a finger in my face. “I’ve spent the last eighteen years doing whatever it took to keep you safe, and you repay me like this? By acting like a mortal?” he hisses. “You’re not a mortal, Faline. You’re a Nephilim. You have a greater destiny that I’m trying to prepare you for! Being at college is a distraction.”
He shakes his head. “I knew you weren’t ready for this. You’re fated to be something great, Faline. This is important for the future. For the world’s future.”
“Dad, please.” I step forward, begging now. “Please don’t make me go home. I’ll do anything. I just want to stay here.” I take in a gasp to keep from sobbing. “I just want to stay.”
Dad looks down at me. His gaze is so cold. So removed.
He shoves past me. “I will honor our deal, but you’d better honor your end as well, Faline. Either raise your average and continue down the path we decided for you, or I’m yanking you out and taking you back home. You’ll do college there. Under my supervision.”
Roman vanishes. I’m quivering so much my knees are shaking.
It’s not unusual for him to blow up on me. He always pushed me hard, even as a little girl.
But being gone for a few weeks made my immunity to it go away. I got used to not being yelled at while living at GLS. It stings worse than before.
Is there even a point in trying to rebel? He’s probably already made up his mind. His pride will allow him to let me stay here, until December, then he’ll pull me out of college and force me to come back home. Then he’ll lock the door and throw away the key.
I’ll be imprisoned forever. Literally. His immortality and mine will keep me chained up until Judgement Day.
I can’t run. He’s too strong, too powerful. There’s nowhere he won’t be able to find me, and I doubt I’ll be able to survive out there on my own. I can fight, but I have no money, and nowhere to go.
It’s pointless to hope anymore. To fight. To wish for a better life.
A familiar thudding catches my attention. I look out the window and see that Sigma Zeta is lit up, crammed full of frat guys. The infamous kegger is tonight.
I change my clothes, grab my purse and head out. If I’ve only got a short time before my father takes control of me again, I’m going to enjoy every last drop of freedom I have before the end.
Sigma Zeta has a reputation on campus for being the trashy fraternity.
It completely lives up to that reputation.
The frat house is dirty, and it smells. But they know how to party. Beer free-flows from every container possible. In each room there are guys doing shots, or keg stands, or throwing up.
Nobody bothers to clean it up. I just move.
The living room is so smoky you can barely see through the cloud. The smell of marijuana is so strong. My head swims with the contact high. I fight my way to the backyard, where a huge bonfire is blazing.
It gets my attention that there aren’t a lot of girls at this party. And the ones that are, are attached to someone’s arm.
I want to hurt somebody. Make them feel the pain that my father makes me feel every day. It hurts so bad when you love someone, but they keep you in a cage and you and can’t imagine, can’t be able, to disobey them.
Although guys glance my way, they keep their distance. The impression Thames made my first day still resonates. They don’t want to risk flirting with me only to deal with him later.
I grab a Solo cup and pour myself a beer from the keg. I almost wish Thames had done nothing that night. What Cody had done… insulting, but I could’ve handled it. Thames is literally tearing me in half with his on-again, off-again attitude. It’s more than a girl can handle.
I don’t realize I’ve already had two beers until they’re gone. I’m getting a little tipsy by the time I’ve drank my fourth. I’ve never drank before, besides having a glass of wine on my eighteenth birthday behind my dad’s back, so getting drunk is a new sensation for me.
Guys notice. They’re coming closer, starting to close in.
Whatever. Bring it. I’ll fight them when I’m drunk. I’ll fight anybody.
“What’s up, beautiful?” a familiar, hated voice slithers in my ear. I groan. I turn around to see Cody standing here in cutoffs and a backwards hat, grinning. “Nice seeing you here tonight.”
“You’re a part of this fraternity?” I should’ve known.
“Where’s your friend?” Cody spies for Thames. He acts arrogant, but he’s nervous.
“Not here,” I say coolly, taking another sip. Cody brightens.
“In that case, why don’t you come up to my room, baby?” he slinks closer and glides a muscled arm around my hips. “It’s got a great view.” He laughs. “From my bed.”
I puff out my cheeks. “Actually, I should be going.” I throw the Solo cup down on the ground and go to leave, but Cody reaches out and snatches my wrist.
“Let go of me, you pig.” I go to jerk back, but with horror, I find that Cody doesn’t let go. I yank back my wrist with what I think is enough force to tear his arm from his socket, but his fingers don’t move.
Cody is strong, too. Just as strong as me. Either there’s something supernatural about him, or I’m so drunk I no longer have control of my motor skills.
Both are equally terrifying.
“Come on, babe,” Cody says. He starts hauling me through the crowd. I try to ask for help, but I’m so drunk, my words are slurred. I hardly know where I’m going. One foot stumbles helplessly in front of the other as Cody pulls me upstairs and into his room.
Cody locks the door and pushes me on the bed. I lose my balance and tumble backward onto the mattress. He proceeds toward me with a malicious smile. “First time? Don’t worry. It won’t hurt too bad.”
“No.” God, this was a stupid idea. Why had I come here? Because Dad pushed me over the edge?
“Relax, babe. This is gonna be fun.” Cody starts to unbuckle his pants. “Trust me. You’ll love it.”
I’m gonna have to kill this dick. If I even can. If he’s supernatural and sober, I have no chance against him.
No. I’m being stupid. Cody isn’t a Nephilim. He’s just a mortal dude, and I drank too much. I can handle this.
Cody falls on top of me. I try to wiggle out, but he pins my wrists over my head and plants his mouth on my neck. “Sexy,” he hisses.
I’ve had enough. I take what’s left of my sobriety and use it to knee Cody directly in the balls.
“Oof!” Cody folds like an accordion. I push him off of me and stumble to the door. He gets up and comes for me, but I deliver a flat-handed strike directly to his windpipe.
Cody gasps for air and falls on the ground. I grab the doorknob and fumble with it. God, I’m too drunk to even unlock it.
Cody gets back on his feet. His eyes… they’re flaming. Shining with a hideous evil that even terrifies me.
This was a mistake. My terror— it cries out for someone to save me. I’ve never needed saving before… I could always save myself… but Cody… there’s something in his eyes that keeps me pinned and paralyzed. I’ve fought the worst hell has to offer and never have I seen anything like what’s in that horrible stare.
Then—
The window breaks, but breaks isn’t an accurate way to describe it. It explodes. In flames.
Thames rises to his
feet. His entire form is burning. He’s shirtless. Fire ripples up his hands, eyes enflamed with an even more terrifying fury than Cody’s.
Two dark forms spread out from behind Thames. Great, leathery wings spread out behind him, each tip touching the opposite sides of the room. They’re black and terrifying.. Twisted in a way I can’t describe.
If I doubted before, I don’t now. I’m definitely in love with him.
Cody’s mouth gapes as Thames reaches out and grabs him with one hand, fingers curling around his neck.
Thames lifts Cody into the air until his feet are dangling. Cody scrabbles at Thames’ hand, but Thames is cool. Calm.
Deadly.
“Bother her again, and I’ll rip you in half.”
Something changes in Cody… it’s as if his face… morphs. I see a tinge of black fire flickering at Cody’s fingertips as his hands claw at Thames’ arm.
It happens so fast that I’m not even sure if I saw it. It could’ve been a shadow.
But it’s too late to guess. Thames hurtles Cody across the room and into the wall. But Cody doesn’t stop at the wall; he literally goes through it, leaving a human sized hole behind and tumbling into the next room. Around Cody’s neck are five long burn marks in the shape of fingers. Where Thames’ hand was.
Thames turns away from Cody and to me. He bends down and cradles me in his arms, hugging me against his bare chest.
“Hold on tight to me,” he murmurs in my ear. He then spreads his great, glorious leathery wings, and we take off into the sky.
The cool air helps me recover. Snow begins lightly falling through the sky as we sail over campus. For as horrifying as Thames was just now, he’s gentle, tender.
Even loving. He holds me even more tightly against him, lips nestled in my hair as we soar.
Or maybe I’m just that drunk.
Thames takes me back to his cabin. There’s already a fire blazing in the fireplace. He puts me on the couch and wraps a blanket around me. His wings fade as the blanket closes around my form… like he’s finally convinced I’m safe.
“Shame,” I mumble. “I really liked those.”
“That wasn’t even my full form,” Thames says. “You haven’t seen anything.”
Thames goes into the kitchen. He returns with a Gatorade and thrusts it into my hands. “Drink this.”
I do what he says, taking small sips. He sits down beside me, watching me carefully.
“Why did you go away?” I ask.
Thames blinks. Then he lifts an arm and puts it around me. I move so I’m sitting in his lap, leaning against his chest while both of his arms are concealed around me like a tent. So safe and warm. He’s my little furnace.
Okay, maybe not so little. I feel tiny wrapped up in his huge body. He’s a big guy.
“I didn’t go away,” he says quietly. “I just… needed time.”
I shift against him. “Don’t go away again.”
He makes a soft noise. “No. Never.”
“How’d you know where I was?” I slur. I take a drink of Gatorade and do what I can to avoid tossing it back up.
“Sydney and Emalee. They couldn’t find you,” he says hastily. “Their only guess was that you went to that… party.” He spits out the word. “I saw Cody was gone, and so were you, and put two and two together. One look in his window was all it took.”
“Cody is gonna wear those scars forever.” I laugh.
“He’s lucky I didn’t kill him,” Thames growls. His body begins to shake. “The things I imagined doing to that bastard.”
“Thames.” I put my hand on his chest. “Stop.”
He stills. I sit back onto his chest, and say, “By the way, why aren’t you wearing a shirt?”
“I get hot sometimes,” he says, shrugging. “Wearing clothes is practically unbearable.”
“You don’t have to wear clothes around me.” I smirk. “It’s optional.”
“Yeah. Don’t think you’re ready for that.” He tilts his head thoughtfully. “Or me.”
“What?” My stomach rolls, and I suppress a burp. “You’re a virgin?”
“My brother kept me away from girls my entire life. Then the one girl that he actually allowed me to get close to, he stole away.” He sighs. “Haven’t had the heart to be interested in anyone since.”
He looks at me. “Until you.”
My heart thumps. Thames, poster guy for sex and sweet release, a virgin.
One hell of a hot virgin. It’s a miracle that nobody else has claimed him yet.
I thank God for being so lucky. It’s like he practically came wrapped up in a bow…
Except for his past. The girl that he can’t get over. The one that’s still getting in the way.
“Lena, why were you there alone tonight?” Thames asks. He sounds exhausted. “You had no business being at that frat house.”
“I got into a fight with my dad,” I tell him. “He came to my dorm and yelled at me about my grades. I guess they’re not high enough for him.”
“A human?”
“No. He’s an angel,” I say.
“An angel actually staying around to raise their kid,” Thames says, impressed. “Interesting.”
“Yeah. I know it’s not the norm, but my dad isn’t a normal angel. He takes responsibility very seriously.” Too seriously.
“So, what happened?”
“Oh, I don’t know.” I chew the inside of my cheek. “He basically told me that I’m wasting my potential, that I go out and party too much. He doesn’t want me to have friends. Just study.”
I wouldn’t tell Thames any of this if I was sober. I’d make up an excuse, say it was something stupid. I’ve never told anyone anything about my dad before. It felt like a cardinal sin to do so. But I’m so intoxicated I can’t stop myself from spilling everything. The words just keep tumbling out.
“Your dad blew up on you for having fun?” Thames narrows his eyes.
“I just wanted to have a good time,” I say, looking down. “I went to the party to forget. To pretend to be normal for once.”
“What’s normal?” Thames chuckles.
“I don’t know.” My voice becomes choked.
Thames notices. He pulls me closer, and I say, “My mom died a long time ago when I was young. My dad has been doing nothing but teaching me how to kill demons ever since. He’s been making me take these really tough classes, stuff I don’t like. He keeps telling me I have some great destiny.”
“What do you want to be?” Thames asks gently.
“I don’t know.” A tear slips down my cheek, and I sniff. “Me.”
Thames uses his thumb to wipe the stray tear away. “You are you. You don’t need to be anyone else.”
Thames sentiments are so sweet. And kind. Like I said, I don’t think he has a bad bone in his body.
Such a beautiful soul could never be destined for hell. It can’t be.
A wave of nausea hits me. I hold my head. “Ugh. I feel so sick.”
“You need to sleep it off.” Thames opens his arms and I slip out of them. He gets up, goes into the kitchen and comes back with a small bottle. He gives me two ibuprofen, which I take. “You must’ve drank a lot to get like this. Nephilim are practically impossible to get intoxicated. Cairo and I could only do it once. We were at the point we were throwing up because we physically couldn’t drink anymore.”
“I truly don’t know how many I had,” I reply. “I just kept at it until I couldn’t walk, really.”
Thames hisses, but doesn’t give any other response.
He grabs a couple of blankets off a nearby rocking chair and drapes them over me. I lie down on the couch. To my surprise, Thames follows. He lowers himself on the other side and tucks an arm over me, holding me tightly to his body.
“You wanna cuddle all night?” I ask, delighted.
“I want to make sure you don’t go anywhere,” he says. “And that you stay warm. This house gets cold at night.”
“Ah,” I say. “You l
ike the snow, then.”
“Why do you think I chose a house with no heating? Summer’s intolerable,” he mumbles.
I giggle, and lay my head down on his arm. “Goodnight, Thames.”
His abs tense. “By the way, Lena…” Thames hesitates. “If you don’t mind, can you tell me how your mom died?”
“She suffocated,” I tell him, letting out a yawn. “In a fire.”
Thames freezes. “A fire?”
I raise my head up. “What? What is it?”
Thames strokes my hair. “Just go to sleep, Lena. It’s going to be a long day tomorrow.”
Under his breath, he utters, “I think it’s time you met my friends.”
Thames is still sleeping soundly when I wake up. In the morning light, I observe his features, as if to preserve them in my mind forever.
His face is perfect. His soft eyelids are closed lightly over his brown eyes, thick lips pressed together, every part of him relaxed instead of tense and on edge. The dawn cascades across his face, illuminating him in a halo of light.
I think it’s the first time I’ve ever seen him be… at peace.
He seems holier than an angel. I’m only more convinced that he belongs in heaven, and not hell.
I make the mistake of shifting. His eyes bat open, and he smiles. “Good morning, Lena.”
I want to wake up next to him every day like this. “Morning.”
I yawn, and roll over. Thames nudges me and says, “Get up. We gotta get moving.”
“No,” I moan. “It’s too early. I just want to lay here.”
Either the ibuprofen or my Nephilim healing abilities worked. I don’t have a hangover. The memory of what I confessed to Thames last night while drunk is… a bit scary in the morning light.
At the same time, I don’t regret it.
“You’re so lazy.” Thames climbs over me and heads for the kitchen. He brings back a cup of coffee and a bowl of cereal, then puts it in front of me. “Hope you like Lucky Charms.”
“They’re actually my favorite.” The mention of food has me up. I start shoveling the Lucky Charms into my mouth and ask, “How’d you know?”
“I’m a good guesser.” He grins again. A flash of white teeth— he’s so brilliant. “Eat up. Believe me when I say it’s going to be a long day.”
