by Megan Linski
Quietly, I whisper, “Get me away from him.”
Thames presses his lips to my hair. In moments, we’re gone, and the sound of the ocean crashing upon the shore is in my ear again.
Thames and I spend the day trying to distract ourselves. We go for a stroll on the boardwalk, have lunch on the bay, and spend the rest of the afternoon swimming at the beach.
Sydney calls me multiple times, but I don’t answer. I just want to be alone with Thames right now.
It’s a glorious escape, the feeling of Thames wrapping his arms around me as the waves come rolling in, the water nearly past our shoulders…
It’s a fantasy that I don’t want to wake up from, but have to.
When sunset falls and Cassia and Cairo aren’t back yet, I figure I need to talk to Thames.
We’re sitting on a blanket, me leaning against Thames, my head on his shoulder as the sun begins to disappear beyond the horizon.
“It was you, wasn’t it?” I start. The sun has bathed the earth in an orange-yellow glow, tinges of red on the horizon. “You killed Cassia’s rapist. That’s why the council banned you.”
Thames draws a line in the sand with his finger and whooshes out a breath. “Yeah.”
“You… did that for her?”
“Without question.”
My breathing has gone shallow. “And… she…”
“Love hurts.” Thames shrugs. “People can’t force themselves to care about someone.”
He exhales again. “No matter what promises you or they intend to keep.”
I pale. The words he spoke to me the first time we kissed come rushing back, shattering the peaceful twilight.
That’s why Thames asked me not to make him any promises. He wants a relationship, but he’s terrified to give his heart away. He doesn’t feel ready to give all of himself to me.
He thinks I’m going to crush it, like my sister did.
No strings attached. No complications, no words that’ll come back to hurt later.
No promises.
God, my heart aches for Thames. Just how badly did Cassia hurt him?
“Will… you make me a promise?”
“Depends on what it is.” His voice is so full of agony. It’s killing me.
Anger bubbles up out of me, unbidden. I sit up. “God, Thames, I can’t… take any more of this… self-inflicted torture you put yourself through!” The words come tumbling out. Thames rears back, surprised.
“What are you talking about?” he says, confused. “I don’t understand.”
“Don’t act like you don’t,” I start. “You love Cass, Thames! Quit denying it!”
He turns away, guilty. “Yeah? So what.”
“So what?” I hiss. “It means everything! You can’t get over a girl who left you two years ago!”
“I’ve tried, okay!” he shouts, and he turns away from me. “I’ve done everything I can to forget about her, but I can’t! She’s got this… hold on my heart that won’t let go!”
“That’s not true,” I insist. “She’s got a hold on your heart because you won’t let her go.”
“How do you know?” he snaps. “You haven’t been through this, been through loving someone and losing them to someone else!”
“No, but I know what it’s like to fall for a guy who’s emotionally unavailable, because they’re stuck on what they can’t have!”
That causes him to recoil. “That’s bull, Lena. You know I love you.”
I’m temporarily frozen. “Really?”
“Yes!” Thames bunches up the blanket in his fists, then releases it. “Yes, I love you. I swear I do.”
“If that’s true then why haven’t you asked me to be your girlfriend?” I accuse. “Why have you never told me how you feel?”
“Because it’s—” Thames takes a deep breath, like he’s seconds away from walking off a precipice and showing a part of himself to me he never exposes to anyone. “You can’t blame me for being cautious. What if you change your mind, or want to run away?”
“I’m right in front of you, Thames! Look at me!” I shout.
He does. My hands are quivering.
“Cassia’s tried to make this as easy as she can on you, but it’s hard, Thames! She can’t fully love Cairo when you’re still hung up on her!”
My eyes burn when I look at him. “And if you still love her, then… then you can’t really love me.”
I start to sniffle. The sniffle turns out to be more of a cry; I end up sobbing. I put my hand on my mouth and try to stifle it down, but I can’t. This is too much.
Thames stares.
Through the sobs, I make out, “And it’s worse. Worse because the torture you’re doing to yourself you’re doing to me, too. You’re torturing me like this, Thames. I can’t take this back and forth, this everlasting state of no promises. I need a promise. I need you.”
Thames swivels. He gets on his knees and cradles my face in his hands.
“I didn’t know about any of this,” he whispers. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because,” I sob. “I was scared if I brought it up, you’d run away.”
“Me leaving was never running away. I could never leave you.” His brown eyes swim with miracles and starlight. “Yeah, I might still love Cassia. Part of me always will.”
He licks his lips. “But I swear to you, Lena, from the moment I’ve met you, I’ve loved you way, way more.”
Relief wraps around my heart. “Do you mean that?”
“Yes. You’ve always been my girl,” he says softly. “How could you not know I love you, Lena? How could you not realize?”
“I need to be told, Thames,” I hush. “How can I know if you don’t tell me?”
Thames chuckles. “Now you know.”
He kisses me, with the waves crashing in the background and the sunset sparkling on the shore. It’s like something out of a fricking movie scene— incredible. I open my mouth to kiss him deeper than I ever have, with all the passion and love and heart that is in me.
When we kiss this time, though, something happens. Flames flicker from his body and brush down my skin. Even though my eyes are closed, I can feel them. My whole body is caressed by fire, but the flames don’t burn me or hurt. They merely consume, protecting me and forming a barrier. Nothing and nobody will ever hurt me. Not when I’m with Thames.
Neither of us question it. We just let it be. Heaven and hell. Brought together in a forbidden, everlasting, enchanting romance.
When Thames pulls away, he reaches up and pinches my nose. “By the way, you are my girlfriend. At least, I thought so.”
“You never asked!” I say, and I throw my arms skyward.
“I had to ask?”
“Ask!” I shout. “Communication!”
Thames laughs. “Okay, Lena. Whatever you say.”
The sun has finally set. It’s getting dark. Thames stands and reaches out a hand to me. He helps me up and says, “Are you hungry? I don’t think we can wait for the others much longer.”
“Yeah,” I say. “Maybe we should go and…”
My voice trails off when Thames’ phone rings.. He takes it out of his pocket and glances down at it. “It’s Cass.” He looks at me like he’s not sure if he should answer… like he’s asking for approval.
“Answer it,” I say. “You don’t need permission from me to talk to her.”
“I don’t want to upset you,” he says. The phone rings louder against the still night.
“I just brought that stuff up because I didn’t know where I stood with you,” I explain. “Cassia’s my sister. I’m not jealous.”
I gesture to the phone. Finally, Thames answers. “Hey, Cass. Where are you?”
I can hear her wailing through the phone, even at a distance. My heart contracts. Thames puts a hand over his other ear and says, “Cass, you need to calm down. I can’t understand what you’re saying.”
Her voice comes through the other end as a scream. I’m scared. What’s happening t
o my sister? Thames looks like he’s starting to panic.
Then, quiet. Cairo’s cool, calm words comes over the other side. Thames’ eyes bulge out of his head, and he says, “I’ll be there right away.”
Thames hangs up. “Lena, you need to stay here while I help Cass and Cairo.”
“What’s happened?” I ask.
He hesitates, and that’s when I know— it’s got something to do with me.
“Take me with you,” I say. “I can help.”
“No.” Thames shakes his head. “You won’t be able to handle it. You’ve been through enough today.”
“Thames. Let me see what’s going on,” I say harshly.
“No, Lena!”
His insistence is only making me freak out more. It must be really bad. I grab Thames hands and beg him. “Please, Thames. I’m just going to follow you wherever you’re going. Don’t let me sit here alone. I’d rather face it by your side, no matter what it is.”
Thames makes a face. His eyes study me, making a decision.
Then he closes his eyes. The ocean dissolves around us, and the beach turns into a dorm… my dorm.
There are people gathered all around, dozens of them. Police. They’re taping off a section of the dorm… my room.
“Lena!” Thames cries out, but I don’t listen. I run full-speed toward my room and push people out of the way to get to the door. An officer puts his hand on my shoulder, and tells me to get back, but I scream that this is my room… and look around him.
A wail echoes out my chest and through the hallway. Sickening grief wraps its cold hands around me and doesn’t let go. There, lying in the middle of my dorm room floor, is Emalee.
She’s dead.
A couple hours later, the cops are done questioning me. Emalee’s death is ruled to be a tragic result of some unknown heart condition. The coroner comes, places her in a black body bag, and rolls her away.
Emalee’s death isn’t the only thing that’s devastating. Sydney’s disappeared. We’ve checked everywhere, but we can’t find her.
I feel so, so guilty. I didn’t answer my phone when she called. I could’ve stopped this. I did nothing.
Thames takes me to Cassia’s foster mom’s house… Isolde’s. She’s not here, but Cassia said all of us were welcome to stay. The four of us stand around the living room, wondering what to do.
Cassia is beside herself. I’m upset, but I have to remind myself that Cass has been best friends with Emalee and Sydney for years. She cried for hours until she couldn’t anymore. Now she’s leaning against Cairo on the couch, looking out at something neither of us can see.
“Lavonne’s coming out for the funeral,” she tells me quietly as she puts her phone down. “But I told her to wait until they set a date. I made an excuse. It’s not safe for her right now.”
I lean forward and put my head in my hands. Thames rubs my back, but it does little to remove the tension there. “How could this have happened?” I whisper.
“Cops said she had a heart attack.” Cass sniffs. “But I don’t understand how. She was so young, and healthy.”
“There’s only one way,” Cairo says. He glances at Thames. Understanding passes between the two brothers.
“What?” Cass lifts her head. “What is it?”
“If a human sees a demon or an angel in their true form, they die,” I tell her. “Mortals can’t handle it. It’s something their mind can’t comprehend… their systems overload, and they have a heart attack out of shock. Only other immortals can see angels and demons in their real bodies and live.”
“There’s still so much of this world I don’t know.” She groans, and drops her head again.
Then, “Have you seen our father in his true form?” Cass hushes.
“No. He didn’t want to scare me.” I put a finger to my mouth and bite it.
“Do you… do you think Emalee saw a demon?” Cass asks.
I nod. “She had to. That girl was the healthiest person I’ve ever seen. All she ate was kale and veggie shakes.”
I look to Thames. He nods slowly. “I think you’re right, Lena. I wasn’t willing to admit it before, but it’s the only thing that makes sense. Cody has gotta be the rogue demon that’s creating all these familiars.”
“The answer is simple. Cody came looking for me in my dorm, you know, because he’s a creep and won’t leave me alone, and Sydney and Emalee must’ve been there, wondering where I was,” I say. “I didn’t answer my phone. They hadn’t seen me in days. They must’ve been worried.”
“How did they get into your dorm?” Cairo asks, confused.
“My room came with two keys, but I don’t have a roommate. I gave Sydney the extra key. Just in case she or Emalee ever needed to get in there,” I tell him. “Cody killed Emalee, left her body as a warning, then took Sydney to get me to come after him.”
“Wouldn’t Sydney have died if she saw Cody in his true form, too?” Cass asks.
“Not if he knocked her out,” Thames suggests. “He could’ve hit Sydney, then changed into his true form in front of Emalee.”
Cairo stands. “We need to talk to the Nephilim council. They have to get involved.”
“No, Cairo.” Cassia stands with him. She rises up to her full height. “We can’t trust the council. They’ll make a mess of this with policy and rules. This is something we need to handle ourselves.”
“Cassia, if the council finds out we did this on our own—”
She puts a hand on his chest. “Sydney’s involved. You know what they do to humans who know about immortals. Even if we rescue her, she’s as good as dead.”
Her eyes soften. “Please, Cairo. Let’s not go by the book. Just this once.”
At her touch, his sturdy walls crumble. “Fine. But let’s at least talk to Athias.”
She nods. “Agreed.”
“Wait, isn’t Athias the leader of the council?” I ask, confused.
“Yes, but we can trust him. He has a soft spot for Cassia,” Cairo says. “Not in a creepy way,” he adds when my brow goes up.
“He’s become like a grandfather to me,” Cassia explains. “He’s at the university. He’ll hear what’s happened and piece it together. We have to get his help to take Cody down. If anyone can locate where he’s gone, it’s Athias.”
Cassia gets up and strides toward the door. The rest of us follow. She yanks it open, determined, but her hand slips off the knob when she notices there’s a man in the doorway.
Athias is already here. He’s got bruises mottled on his face, and blood drips from a cut on his forehead. His suit is ripped and dirty.
My history professor is standing outside the doorway, looking like he just got in a bar fight.
This is so awkward. Cairo immediately jumps in front of Thames to try and hide him, but Athias waves his hand and says, “It’s all right, Cairo. I know Thames has been back for months. I do not care.”
Athias looks at me. “Just as I’ve known since she arrived that Faline is a Nephilim. Nevertheless, I will not pressure her to join the council.”
His face darkens. “Although I regret to say there is no longer a council to join.”
“What do you mean, sir?” Cairo gasps. Cassia’s mouth drops open. Thames puts a hand on my shoulder.
“Let me sit, please.” Athias enters, and we stand aside. He sits wearily on an armchair. Cairo rushes to the kitchen to bring him a glass of water. Athias chugs it like he hasn’t had a drink in days before he settles into the couch.
“The council has been compromised,” Athias breathes. “I was just at a meeting. It seems the other high council members have been talking to someone behind my back.”
“Who, Athias?” Cassia reaches out to grip his fingers. “Tell us.”
“I’m unsure.” He makes a face. “I regret to say I lost my temper. They wanted to unseat me, take away my position as leader and give it to an outsider.”
“Another Nephilim?” Cairo asks.
Athias shakes his head. “No. S
omeone stronger. A demon, perhaps. An immortal with more power than any of us, I’m sure.”
“Cody.” Thames’ knuckles turn white. “Gotta be.”
“Why would they side with a demon? What could he give them? Couldn’t they just slay him?” Cassia asks.
“Who know?” Athias shrugs. “Perhaps they are scared of him, or perhaps he’s offering them more power than I’m willing for them to have.”
Athias shudders. “The other members… turned on me. They had already agreed to join him. I had to fight my way out. They killed the rest who opposed them. I am the only one left.”
“Do you know where the other council members are now?” Cairo asks.
Athias shakes his head. “They went to gather elsewhere. They will send others to look for me, I’m sure. They will indoctrinate the council recruits, and slay those who don’t agree to join the new regime.”
He looks to Cassia and Cairo. “You two will need to run. Before they find you.”
“Athias, do you know where Cody is now? Maybe we can stop him,” Cairo offers.
Athias sits back in his chair and groans. “Whoever is leading them has gathered at the base of the Porcupine Mountains. That’s where they’re headed.”
“Athias, he took one of my friends,” Cassia says. “And killed another.”
“I heard, Cassia. I apologize for the death of Miss Bennett, and the capture of Miss Rolshiem,” Athias says heavily. “But, I beg you, do not go there. You are flying to your deaths.”
Cassia kneels in front of Athias. “I can’t leave my friend alone out there. If there’s even a chance she’s alive, I have to go.”
There’s a steel glint in Athias’ eyes. “Then I will prepare a place for us. A safe haven against this new terror. I will meet you all there, once you have succeeded in your quest. Cairo, you know where to go.”
Cairo nods. Athias closes his eyes, then disappears. Cassia stands up.
“Cairo, go get your mom and take her to the safe house,” she tells him. “I’ll get Isolde. If they can’t find us they’ll be looking for them, to take as hostages. We need to get them to safety before we confront Cody and the council.”
“We’re going after Cody,” I tell her immediately. “Thames and I.”
