“I think I'm falling in love with you.”
I kiss his soft lips, the moment is stopped in time and I know I will never forget the song and his scent and the way his lips are savoring mine at this very second. The world and noise filter back in and I see Elijah on the dance floor with Peyton, her back is to me and Elijah's face is deadpan. I hate how guilty I feel every time he pays witness to Sam and me. I mean I gave him every chance and he pushed me away. Sam has only brought me happiness; he has never made me shed a single tear. The song ends and we take our seats.
“So I was thinking if you don't have any plans tomorrow how about you come take a ride with me?” He said a ride not a drive and I cock my head to the side.
“Um, as in a horse?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“It's a surprise.”
“Yeah, no, I'm more of a planner.”
“I know that what makes this so much more fun.” His eyes dance with anticipation. I see Elijah shake his head no from the corner of my eye. I smile coyly and say. “Okay.” I peek at Elijah's fierce scowl. Aw his little babysitting job just got harder.
A fast song comes on and Emily drags me out to the dance floor.
“Come on Peyton, you too she says.” Peyton gives a fleeting look at Elijah hoping he would object but he shoe's her into going. I giggle internally. She hasn't even been hanging around her usual group of friends tonight at all. The bass is booming to some remix of Lights and the spiked Coke has me moving uninhibited on the dance floor.
“Do you think he likes me?” Peyton asks. Not at all, but I don't say that.
“Elijah is shy; I think you should make the first move,” I shout over the music. She nods and stares over at him plotting her game. She starts dancing more stripper like and other guys on the dance floor are giving her the once over. I peek at Elijah and his eyes lock on mine. He's been watching me the whole time. I break the hold and look at Sam who has the same expression on his face. He's falling in love with me. I play back his words in my head. Am I falling for him? I know I like him and I like how he makes me feel. “Well there ya go,” my dad quips in my head. No I don't think it's that simple.
A moment later Elijah is on the floor dancing close to Peyton, he can dance well, his body moves with grace and confidence. Unwanted jealousy floods through me. I want to be the one he is moving that way with. Peyton keeps pushing herself against him, loving the fact he is finally showing some interest. He isn't looking at me but off toward the door as if he's miles away. I feel Sam come up behind me as he wraps an arm around my waist and sweetly rocks with me. I close my eyes and enjoy his touch. When I open my eyes Elijah is gone and Peyton is trying to recover her groove after his sudden departure. I glance around trying to see where he went, but I can’t find him anywhere. This could be my chance, I have to take it. I had Emily drive her car up to the school today just in case this opportunity presented itself and I have her keys. I told her that I would be leaving the party early to go home and work on my lit paper.
“Sam I'm not feeling well all of a sudden, we left Emily's car here when we met today to get our hair done, I think I am gonna go home, but I will see you tomorrow okay.” He looks worried. He knows I've been drinking.
“Let me drive you.” Great, this is all I need. I need to hurry before he comes back.
“No, I'll be fine. I just need to lie down, okay?” He nods.
“Brennen wait, at least let me walk you out.” He grabs my hand as I start off. I agree, and quicken my pace and he keeps up behind me. I know I may only have a few minutes before Elijah realizes I have left. I wonder where he went. He is stuck here until he can force everyone back in the limo. But of course I have already thought of the fact that he could have a backup agent nearby. I just have to cross my fingers he doesn't.
I reach the car and kiss Sam's lips good bye.
“Bye babe, I hope you feel better. You are sure you’re okay to drive?”
“Yes, I didn’t even finish the one, I’m fine. Bye, thanks and I'm sorry.”
“Don't be, you just get some rest okay.” I nod trying my hardest not to look impatient.
I get home in 35 minutes driving like a lunatic at times. I kick off my heels and run to Elijah's house. I dig out a spare key I saw him hide under the deck railing, and unlock the door. He's never even invited me in. His house is filled with beautiful paintings and sculptures. A neutral modern sofa sits in his living room accented by orange pillows and an ornately woven tapestry rug. I go over to the rustic white desk and find it locked. I search around underneath and find the key, really Elijah? I shake my head, CIA my hind-end. The leather bound journal is inside a cubby hole. I gently take it out and unwind the worn leather string that is coiled around it. It is heavy and feels very old. The pages are yellowed. I read an entry near the front:
~June 7, 2000 Journal of E.M~
You have quite a voice on you, I heard you singing today, 'You are my sunshine,' you stole my breath away. You were building a sandcastle on the beach while your grandmother read a book nearby. We had a close call with that stray dog this morning. They made it mad with rage for your blood. Thank goodness no one was looking when I snapped its neck. Poor guy never saw what hit him.
I cringed and skipped ahead a several pages. Another entry read:
~June 5, 2005 Journal of E.M~
My dear sweet child, I still can't understand why they crashed an entire plane just to get to you. I know you are very special, and I was glad I was able to keep you safe. But I have never heard of them going to such drastic measures for one person. You must have a great destiny ahead of you.
P.S: If they weren’t aware you had a Keeper before, they are now fully educated.
What in the world? I skipped back to previous entries until I found one that included all the details of my plane crash as if I was reliving it moment by moment.
~June 1, 2005 Journal of E.M~
Today was the worst day of my existence. It started when you were going to the airport. I soared beside the plane with the wind in my wings, gliding effortlessly next to the window. I loved to fly. It’s like no feeling on Earth. You looked adorable today in the dress your father chose, I hoped your mother would treat you with kindness this trip, that woman concerns me a great deal. You poor girl, you kept making trips to the restroom and I suppose this altitude was problematic for you. Suddenly out of the corner of my eye I spotted a yellow eyed evil one. He ripped and tore at the plane’s wing I flew over to him and destroyed him. Then I saw dozens of them, they were all over the plane slipping inside the engine compartment and wreaking their havoc on its fuel lines. I killed as many of them as I could but then I heard you cry out inside, you were in trouble and beyond frightened. I noticed the ones I had destroyed had already been renewed and this plane was inevitably going down. Why haven't my people sent reinforcements? I thought.
You were still in the stall when I came inside. The passengers were terrified and I felt horrible knowing that I could only save one. I opened the door and found you there on the ground. It was the first time you had ever seen me, you looked frightened of me, as if I could harm you? I was able to gain your trust after a minute, and I wrapped my wings around you as we plummeted to the ground. The plane was engulfed in flames, smoke billowed in every direction, but I stayed with you, blowing fresh air into your mouth until the fire was contained. It was the first time I was able to ever physically touch you. You were the most innocent and sweetest child God ever made despite what life had given you to work with. “Brennen,” I called to you when I knew help was near, I didn't want them to mistake you for one of the many bodies. You began to stir, saying back to me “I'm here.” in the softest whisper I’d ever heard. I hugged you one last time knowing it would be ages before I would ever touch you again. A few of the demons still lingered outside the carnage, when they saw me emerge, they darted off every which way but mine. I focused on one in particular and bestowed him my wrath. ~
I heard
the door click and looked up as I had read his most recent entries regarding our time on the boat. He rushed to me eyeing the book in my hands. His face was morbid and drained entirely of color. He just stood there staring at me a long while, slowly but surely regaining his composure.
“Thank heaven you're alright. I was worried sick when I couldn't find you.” I stared blankly at him wondering why he was taking this all so coolly. I mean I had just confirmed the fact that he is not what or who he says he is, and from what I have just read, I think I have just uncovered the biggest secret known to man, but I am still processing exactly what that is.
“What do you have there?” he asks and I pull my head back and look at him with disbelief.
“Apparently your daily journal from the last fifteen years or so, give or take a decade.” His face is once again colorless and he eyes me with suspicion. He looks down at the book and back at me. What on earth is he thinking?
“Oh, did you find anything of interest?”
“Oh well the bit about, surrounding me with your wings while my plane went down in flames was the highlight for me I think.” He shakes his head no. He looks at me, disbelieving again.
“Brennen, it should not have been possible for you to read this book,” he says slowly, as if he is still trying to process the information.
“Well when you hide the key right under the drawer like that, it makes it pretty easy,” I smirk. He still looks morbidly at me, like I was just shot in the head.
“No I mean the text, it shouldn't even appear to you and it's not even written in any human language, you couldn't possibly understand it.” He looks again into my eyes begging for an answer I don't have.
“Okay, well I understood it, and I read it, and now you are going to tell me out loud what you really are.” I stand up, feeling very small in the chair all of a sudden.
“I don’t know what they would do to us!” Fury and fear mingle his voice.
“Who are they?” I narrow my eyes and lean forward.
“You can never know the truth Brennen, knowing would be fatal.”
“Then kiss me so I can die happy.” He searches my eyes franticly once again. His eyes finally settle as if his explanation is imminent. He whispers in my ear.
“You looked so beautiful tonight, I felt jealous of Sam. I was so worried about you; don't ever do that to me again.” I feel sorry for making him worry.
“Tell me Elijah,” I persist. I need to hear him say it before it can be real. He hesitates. He walks away from me, and paces the floor rubbing the back of his neck in contemplation. His muscles flexing in his arm as he does so. After what feels like an eternity, he comes back to me and takes my hands in his. His electric blue eyes are lit from within like some neon sign illuminating from within a dark bar.
“It would be easier to show you.” His soft lashes meet his cheek and his face appears serene. I hear a strange sound like an umbrella opening and I witness a beautiful plume of snow white wings emerge from behind him. He flexes his back and they fully extend to an impressive expanse of at least ten feet. I suck in a breath and take a step back in awe of his majesty and grandeur.
His eyes flutter open and he declares, “I am the keeper of your soul. I have guarded you since you were a baby, and I will guard you until your time here is through.” He pulls me into his chest. “And I love you,” he says as if admitting it to himself for the first time out loud. And I know without a doubt, that this is what love feels like, I don't know why I even tried to fight the feelings I knew would never die for this man.
“I love you too Elijah.” His blue eyes are dazzling, like stars on the water, he smiles that beautiful smile that is able to melt my heart and then his smile withers as quickly as it bloomed. His eyes turn down and a tear rolls down his cheek. “What is it, what is wrong?” My stomach turns inside out; I know instinctually that what he is about to say will be devastating. His eyes slowly rise to meet mine and he places his hand behind my head. His brows are peaked with worry.
“Our love is forbidden. I have been ordered to keep our relationship platonic. I am not allowed to physically show you any affection. I am not human Brennen. I have no control over my body when it comes to direct orders. I can’t even kiss you right now though I am desperate to.”
“So that day in the stairwell, that is what happened?” He nods his head with his eyes worshiping the floor. I take everything in, gradually trying to wrap my head around what I have read and what he has said. I marvel in a jaw dropping stare at his full body length wings. He said he was the keeper of my soul, what does that mean? Is he an angel then? He has no free will. How does that work? He told me he loves me, which is not exactly keeping our relationship platonic. So if I understand correctly, he can talk about his feelings for me, but he can’t act on those feelings? I have to know more.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Yes,” he says with reserve.
“Are you an angel?”
“Yes.” His tone changes to proudly acknowledge his lineage.
“So is it all true, the Bible, Heaven… God?”
“It is all true.”
“Wait, you lied to me, if you can lie to me then wouldn’t that make you one of the fallen angels talked about in the bible, Satan is said to be the master of deception.”
“I have never lied to you.”
“You said you were in the CIA. Elijah.” A wry smile grows on his face as he pulls his wallet from his back pocket, presenting me with the badge once again.
“Look closely.” I take it from his hands and examine it. Atop the gold shield rest a dove not an eagle. CIA is in raised letters across a blue banner. The United States is not recognized anywhere on the badge. I look at the printed card next to the badge, it reads, Elijah Moran – Elite Angel, his name and rank. Above his name and in fine print says, Cherubim Infantry of Angels –C.I.A. How did I not notice that before? He had laid it all out to me weeks ago and I was too hormone riddled to even read into his explanation.
“I cannot tell a lie Brennen.” I am still for a while, absorbing the knowledge that without a doubt God is real. An angel is in love with me and I am in love with him. I ponder the fact that our love is forbidden, and righteously so. My thoughts move to the plane crash, all of their deaths, merely a plot to kill me – no mind paid to the murder of hundreds of innocent bystanders. Nothing is as it seems.
“What about your first comment, someone wants to find out what I know concerning my father’s death? Was his death at the hand of rebel militants, human or demonic?”
“I can’t say for certain, as you know Lucifer is the master of deception. They can make it look like it was a human encounter, as they do most of the time.” It is all too much for me to bear. Rubbing my forehead is futile, the pain is emotional not physical, but I do it anyway. Elijah walks into the kitchen, his wings disappearing silently enough to cause me to look twice.
“Can I get you something?” he asks. The room is an open concept so I watch him as he puts ice in the glass and fills it with water. He takes a bottle of wine from the cooler and uncorks it. “Or perhaps you would prefer to have a glass of wine.” Wine did sound nice.
“Yes please. I thought you didn't like it when I drink?”
“I don't consider one glass of wine drinking, but then again you did have two of those cokes at the dance,” he admonishes, I shrug. He was paying close attention. He brings me a glass of cool wine. I sip it and the spell the crisp fruit casts on my taste buds is exquisite. He stares at the fireplace for a moment and it ignites at his silent command, the same way my blood emblazes for him.
“You are taking all of this better than I would have expected.” He brushes a hand down my neck and continues along to the side of my ribs following the seam of my dress all the way down to my hip. Oh my God. His trail of kerosene ignites and burns the traces of where his fingers had been. My eyes close, I pant once as my breath escapes me. When I open my eyes, I see something in his that eases me.
“I just needed that explanation, that all of the bad things that have happened in my life... When that plane went down and those people lost their lives, the only thing that kept me going was that I needed my life to mean something. I can never make up for all of their lives but I never want my life to just fade away into something mediocre. If this evil wants to destroy me because I have some great destiny, and you were sent to make sure I achieve it, then it has to mean that I am meant to help turn this crazy world into a better place, right?”
“Oh Brennen yes, I have seen a glimpse of your future and you are going to go down in history, believe me.”
“Tell me what you saw, please.” I take another sip of wine and ready myself for his story.
“I saw you sitting behind the desk at the oval office.” He looks off, staring at nothing in particular while he speaks.
“That's it? I was probably just dusting it as a maid for the president,” I say halfhearted and he chuckles.
“No I am sure it was yours, and you had young children, but that's all I could see.” I imagine myself for a minute as head of state. Possibly the first woman in office, dressed to impress in a designer fitted suit, I will always try to look feminine but powerful. My subconscious blasts me for thinking about fashion before the real issues. There is so much I could do. I am eager for this future; it excites me on a molecular level. He said young children, so I will be a young president. I mean a woman is pretty much done having kids by forty or so. This means I could be the youngest president in history as well, this is extraordinary. Elijah's eyes are back to me. I could stare at him all night.
“Do you have special gifts or magic powers or something?”
“Or something is fairly accurate.”
“Is smelling of delicious deserts one of them?”
“What? Is that why you asked if I baked the other day? Who ever heard of cookie dough being a magical power?” he laughs playfully.
I move over to him and nuzzle his neck, loosening his tie with my free hand. “You smell like dark chocolate truffles and cherries,” I move my nose to his ear and inhale, “and wine.”
My Soul to Keep (The Soul Keeper Series - Young Adult Paranormal Romance) Page 9
