A Touch Mortal

by Leah Clifford

  Finally she whispered, “Just go, Adam.” She couldn’t keep the defeat out of her voice. Telling him anything had been stupid. “Get out.”

  Somewhere in the darkness between the bed and the door she heard him breathe deep, once. Twice. Go, she thought.

  “If he’s an angel, prove it.” He found his way back to her, sat down, and reached over to turn on the light. Eden cringed, the sudden brightness stinging her eyes.

  “Why?” She knew she could. Gabe didn’t have wings, but he had other ways of convincing. Gabe might be pissed at first, but having Adam’s trust would be worth it. Hell, maybe Gabe’s anger, the changing color of his eyes, would be enough.

  “Because I want you to be telling the truth,” he said.

  “And you don’t think I am.” She sat up, putting her elbows on her knees, her chin dropping into her palms.

  “Yeah, and that part kinda makes me an asshole, doesn’t it?” He laughed, a ghost of his normal self creeping in.

  She gave him a small smile. “A bit.”

  “So, you gonna get me a feather or something? Maybe a bell off Santa’s sleigh while you’re at it?”

  “You’ve already seen one,” she said.

  “An angel? The Az guy? When?”

  “Not him. The guy I was talking to in Milton’s. Gabriel’s one of them.” She laughed at the incredulous look he gave her as he remembered. “He blends, doesn’t he? He was best friends with Az. Best friends with me. Before…” Adam waited, watching her, but she couldn’t bring herself to go on.

  “Is there some deal with you and him?” he asked carefully. Eden kept the smile.

  “Trust me, you have nothing to worry about from Gabe. I’ll see if I can arrange a meeting,” she said. Her eyes wandered to the phone. She wouldn’t call Kristen now, not while she knew Az was there, but in a few hours it should be safe. Gabe owed her this much. Kristen might know where Eden could surprise him with a visit of her own.

  CHAPTER 33

  It was snowing as they made their way across the street. A flashing half-burnt-out marquee proclaimed the place “Aerie.” Below the name of the club, black letters spelled out:

  7:30 pm six foot shovel

  9 pm dawn’s supernova all ages show

  “Kristen said Gabe would be at that second one.” Eden grabbed Adam’s hand as they neared the club and the crowd thickened. She left out the part where Kristen had told her it was a bad idea, that Gabe would find her if he needed her.

  Outside Aerie, the sidewalk was a clustered mass of black clothes and skin paled by makeup. Next to Eden, a Goth girl squealed and clomped her eight-inch striped platforms past Adam to join a group of near clones, Manic Panic purple hair trailing behind her.

  “OMG!” the girl cried, pronouncing each letter. “Can you actually believe we’re going to see DS? Singer is hot.”

  Eden heard Adam scoff. She turned toward him, her eyes playful as she surveyed his light blue sweater and jeans. “Now you see what I meant by ‘restricted palette’?”

  “Clearly.”

  Eden laughed, tugging at the pleats of her black skirt. Her legs were covered by her usual knee-high boots, this pair laced up the side with a white ribbon. A few hot pink clips in her hair and a matching tank top hidden under her peacoat completed her outfit. No one gave her a second look, but there were more than a few whispers behind glittery black nails as Adam led the way to the double doors.

  A muscled thug sat on a stool at the door, the word “Staff” ironed onto his too tight T-shirt. Even he was wearing eyeliner.

  “What’s the cover?” Eden asked.

  “No cover. Need tickets,” he growled, barring their way with his trunk of an arm.

  “How much?”

  “Sold out. Next!” Eden tilted her chin, glaring at him in frustration.

  “Well, fuck.” She spun to face the crowd, zeroing in on the first person she saw wearing gloves. “You.” She pointed her finger, stopping him. “You have tickets for this?” she asked. The kid nodded. “Two?” Another nod. “Good. I want them,” she said, digging in her pocket. “Hundred for both?”

  The kid laughed. “Not a fucking chance.”

  “You’re serious?” Eden snorted. “Fine. Make it two.”

  “Just forget it, Eden. We’ll do it another time.” Adam grabbed her arm as she went for her pocket again. “Jarrod…”

  “Is a phone call away if he needs us,” she said, digging out the rest of the cash she carried, not bothering to keep anything for the cab ride home. “This is important, Adam.” She looked up, meeting his eyes. “I don’t want you to pass in here. If it gets to be too much, we can go. You ready?”

  “Yes, but…”

  She turned back to the boy, dropping a tightly wound tube of bills into his hand and snapping up the tickets. She handed one to Adam. “Your proof is in there. And you’re going to get it.” She smiled sweetly as she handed hers to the bouncer.

  They both held out their wrists for the neon yellow wristbands reserved for the underage crowd. She swung open the heavy door, holding it for Adam to follow.

  Heavy bass lines throbbed through the floor and wound up her legs. Each relentless note rattled into her lungs, ready to break her apart a particle at a time. The lights cut on and off, pulsing in time to the heartbeat of the bass drum, highlighting hundreds of arms raised and waving like tentacles. A guitar screamed chords over a techno beat so fast Eden’s heart sped up in a struggle to compete.

  The lights died.

  Eden froze, disoriented. Without her sight, the only sensations left offered up the scent of sweat and a collective gasp from the crowd. In that moment, when the gasp stuttered into silence, before they had time to breathe again, a voice sliced across the room. The deep baritone fell from the air around her, the guitar crying out again as the singer moaned into the microphone. No words, just an escape of pleasure.

  A single spotlight shone down, but the singer crouched low. Eden rose onto her toes, trying to catch even a glimpse of him.

  He stood suddenly and stepped forward to the edge of the stage, giving her a clear view as he searched the crowd, his gaze hunting prey.

  Leather pants clung to his legs. Even though the stage lights had to have been searing heat down on him, he wore a long-sleeved black shirt so tight it was a second skin. His head bobbed as he flashed a grin at the drummer. Sweat flew from the drenched inky curls hanging to his shoulders. His boot counted off the beat, and he swung an arm down, silencing the drums on cue.

  “Without your hideous…beautiful…” he purred, searching the crowd. With a whispered breath, he moaned, “Love.” It rolled from his lips like a promise, echoed layer after layer. Deep inside her, something shivered. “Can you love me?” he asked the crowd, prowling the stage. “Do you DARE?” The room surged forward. Screams drowned out his laughter. He held his arms out, head bowed, reveling in their reaction.

  In front of Eden, a girl fainted. Two massive bouncers struggled to her. Each of them took an arm and pulled her away as if they’d been expecting it.

  “Pretty good, isn’t he?”

  Eden jumped at the voice, a guy next to her clapping wildly as he screamed into her ear to be heard.

  “Who is he?” she asked, unable to take her eyes off the stage.

  “That,” he said, “is Dawn’s Supernova.”

  CHAPTER 34

  No, Gabe thought, watching the pink clips bobbing in and out of sight through the crowd. He covered the distance quickly, slamming past shoulders, and grabbed Eden’s arm.

  Whipping her away from the Goth kid at her ear, he yelled, “What are you doing here?” into a face as shocked as his own must have been. The guy who lived at her apartment tried to claw his hand away, but Gabe ignored it.

  Eden raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t you say that if I needed anything…?” She was trying to give off an air of amusement, but her blue eyes were strained, the teasing smile a mask.

  “You’re not in trouble, are you?” he asked. Gabe maneu
vered her by her elbow, turning her so that her back was to the stage. “How did you find me here?”

  “I have my ways,” she laughed, twiddling her fingers in his face, but her laugh was false. Gabe cringed.

  “What do you need, Eden?” he prodded, unsmiling, tensing as the music stopped. He eased when the band dove full throttle into the next song. Eden’s face grew serious.

  “I need you to tell Adam what you are,” she said, seeming like she wasn’t quite sure she wanted to ask at all. “I tried to, but he didn’t believe me. I need you to prove it.”

  “Eden…” Damn it, he thought. They’d risked showing up to corner Luke. Try to find out if he knew anything about the dead Sider. But he couldn’t let him see Eden.

  She threw a hand on her hip. “You owe me, Gabe. He’s my second in command. He deserves…”

  “Second in command? Is that what they’re calling it these days?”

  Eden blushed.

  “Sorry, bad form.” You’re sure about this? he mouthed. She nodded. He would have done anything to get her out of the club.

  He turned to Adam. “You must be the nonbeliever.” The guy glanced to Eden. Gabe followed his lead.

  She nodded in time to the music. Though the stage was no more than forty feet away, her eyes were concentrated much further and glassy. Gabe snapped his fingers. “That’s your cue, sweets. We need introductions or something. It’s getting awkward.”

  “Gabe, Adam. Adam, Gabe…” she said, turning away from the stage with a series of long blinks.

  “Goth rule number one. No pastels,” Gabe said, grimacing at Adam’s light blue sweater. “Please tell me she at least hassled you a bit. If not, I’d seriously rethink the whole friendship.” Gabe offered his hand. When Adam hesitated, he reached forward and pumped it once. “Doesn’t affect me,” he said. Adam watched as his fingers pulled away, waiting for the glow.

  “So Eden wants you let in on a few secrets,” he said, leaning in as if passing along a juicy piece of gossip.

  “Gabriel!” The shriek came from their left, cutting off the conversation. A petite girl, hair done up in curled twists of pigtails, threw herself into Gabe’s arms. When she pulled away, a trace of excess glitter from her cheek sparkled against his black shirt.

  “Valerie!” he lilted, kissing the air on either side of her wide grin.

  “Can you even stand to look at him?” she asked, pulling away. “That voice! I’m putty!”

  Gabe looked to the stage, where Dawn’s Supernova had just launched into the next song.

  “He’s so not my type. You know the bad boy thing just doesn’t do it for me.”

  Gabe caught the wrinkling of Adam’s brow at his words, but the look was there and gone.

  “Oh! I’m sorry. You’re here with someone!” Valerie gasped, turning to Adam. She raised her arms, leaning in to throw them around him in a hug. Adam’s eyes went wide. Gabe stepped between them before she could complete the move and twirled her away from Adam.

  “Not quite.” Valerie stared up at him, confused. “Friend of a friend,” he explained.

  She winked at Gabe, no doubt thinking it was some sort of blind date. “Well then, I’ll let you two get to know each other.”

  Gabe watched her wander into the crowd. From the corner of his eye he saw Adam leaning down to Eden’s ear.

  “Eden. Seriously?”

  Gabe caught the remark, raising an eyebrow. “Is there a problem?” he asked.

  “An angel…who’s gay,” Adam said, as if the contradiction should have been obvious.

  “You seem like a smart guy, Adam.” Gabe threw a hand on his hip. “God creates a race of beings, whose sole purpose is to love. Think He would do that and not expect them to love each other? That’s just daft, especially when you mortals are off-limits.”

  “But her and…”

  Gabe tsked, cutting him off and turned to Eden. “Someone has been a bit chatty, hasn’t she?”

  “He needed some backstory. It’s important that he knows what he’s up against.” She balked. “Believe me, I don’t talk about Az unless I have to,” she added quickly.

  “Nice of you to clarify.” Gabe turned back to Adam.

  “What do I need to know?” Adam asked. “She apparently thinks you have all the answers, being as you’re all knowing and whatnot.” At his side, Eden was tense.

  “What’s he been told?” Gabe asked as he scanned the room looking for the space thickest with people, where she would be least likely to be spotted.

  “Not much.”

  He palmed a bill to Eden, but never took his eyes off Adam.

  “Your boy will have a Coke, with a shot of cherry juice. His mom used to make it for him that way. One of his favorite childhood memories. Three cherries, right?” he asked Adam. The question was rhetorical.

  Adam swiveled between him and Eden, his face unsure. “I haven’t told anyone that. Not since I became a Sider.”

  “I did some checking,” Gabe said, waving it away. “You’ll forgive my intrusion; I’m a little…protective of my friends,” Gabe said, turning back to him. “This one especially,” he added, sliding an arm around Eden’s shoulder. He looked pointedly into her eyes. “I only do what’s best for her.”

  “But, there’s nothing to check on with me,” Adam said. “No one remembers me.” He shook his head. “No, it was just a lucky guess.”

  Gabe checked the stage, annoyed. On it, Luke pranced across it like an idiot, winking at girls in the audience. If he didn’t get Eden out soon, there would be a whole new set of problems. Of course, Eden was too stubborn to leave without Adam being convinced. Time to turn things up a notch, he thought. “Not checking on you, my friend, but your little brother. Barrett was easy enough to look up. I took a chance that you had the same taste. You should know he’s doing really well, Adam. So is your sister.”

  There was an awkward pause as Adam choked back a shocked breath. Gabe turned to the stage, his head bobbing to the music as he gave Adam a moment to compose himself.

  “So you tracked down my family? That doesn’t prove anything.”

  Gabe sighed hard as he spun toward Eden. “You always go for the hardheads.” Pecking her on the forehead, he added, “How about those drinks? Grab me a bottle of water. I need a few minutes with Adam here.”

  CHAPTER 35

  Eden pushed her way through the dancing bodies to the front of the bar, but the crowd was still too thick to get any service. She moved with the flow, winding her way around the edge until the people thinned out near the corner. Her hands she kept close to her sides. She cast a glance onto the dance floor while she waited, but Adam and Gabe were lost behind a curtain of colored strobes and flesh.

  Eden tried not to notice the skin. Everywhere, it danced in creams and darker hues, shades of ivory. She dug her fingernails into her palms, hoping Adam was managing to cope. Finally, the bartender took her order.

  She slid Gabe’s cash over as the drinks were set down, picking up the glass. Before she could twist her fingers around the necks of the bottles, an arm slid around her waist, a man’s voice yelling over the lead singer’s syrupy wail.

  “I’ve got hers.”

  A hand covered her own bill after slapping down two twenties. Eden jerked her fingers away. If she passed Touch once, opened the floodgates, she wasn’t sure she’d be able to stop. She plastered a fake smile on her lips. Swiveling in the embrace to glance over her shoulder, she caught sight of him.

  In her hand, the glass slid, condensation puddling against her fingers as they grasped too late, catching just enough of the lip to send it in a lazy spiral. It crashed against the floor, splinters slicing into the skewered cherries. A sneaker smeared the dirty pond of reddened cola, tracking bits of it away. Eden’s hand froze, empty.

  “Oh, fuck me,” she said.

  “That happy to see me, huh?” Az tightened the arms already snug around her waist from behind. His hair against her neck, his head nestling onto her shoulder the way he had al
ways done broke the spell. She ripped away, twisting to face him.

  Her first thought was that Kristen had been right about the Emo phase. His dark brown curls were gone, dyed black and practically ironed. The hair drifted over one of his blue eyes; the one she could see was lined in kohl. He was sinewy, the tight black thermal clinging to him, defined muscles strange on arms she remembered far less skinny than they were now. Her second thought was that Kristen had been wrong about him looking like shit. He looked incredible.

  “Seriously?” she asked, thrusting him away, ignoring the shiver that passed through her when her hands met his chest. For once, the feeling had nothing to do with Touch.

  “You’re pretty pissed, huh?” He offered her a weak half smile of apology, one of his shoulders rising as he cringed.

  “You can’t think that wounded puppy shit is gonna work on me?” Anger dislodged the words she’d wanted to say for so long. “Not after what you did.”

  He raised an eyebrow. “You’re not gonna cut me any slack? I mean, I died for you.”

  “Yeah, and I died because of you. Only for me it wasn’t an act.” She stepped back, glass crackling under her boots. Az reached for her wrist. “Don’t touch me,” she seethed.

  He pulled his hands away, lifting them to show he meant no harm. “I just don’t want you to get cut.”

  Looking down, she realized her hands were empty. Behind her, the bottles were gone from the bar, stolen while her back was turned. Az took a step back. She hesitated before filling the space, stepping out of the puddle.

  “What do you want, Az?” she asked, wondering if he heard the tremble in the words.

  “Just to talk.” He hesitated, just enough to let her know he was moving, and then brushed his hand across her cheek and back to her neck. “You cut your hair,” he said, twirling a bit between his fingers. “I like it.” He caught her gaze before she thought to turn away. His eyes, they pulled her deeper into them, drifting into cold blue whispers of comfort. Remember us, Eden, they begged. Remember how we were. She forced hers shut, breaking the hold while she could, surprised by the effort it took.