Few Are Angels

by Inger Iversen

  That made no sense to me because couldn't they make more Eternals? I placed my hands over the fire. The wood crackled and sent soft, billowy smoke plumes into the dark air. It was one a.m. and freezing outside, but Jace’s story kept me glued to my makeshift chair—a surprisingly warm and comfortable tree stump. The fire was dwindling, and Kale had left to go get more wood, but he been gone longer than it should take to pick up some sticks. Things were different between us, and I noticed he no longer stole glances in my direction. Nor did he ever strike up conversation with Jace or me. He just hung around us, stoic, vigilant, and distant. We hadn’t talked about his “bloodlust” incident, but Jace made sure to explain it to me. He said sometimes humans gave off a scent known to send vampires and Chorý into a frenzy. From what I understood, it robbed vampires of reason and twisted their minds.

  “Wait, why don’t you turn more people?” I asked, pulling me out of my mind and back to the conversation. If their numbers had been lessened, what was stopping them from creating more?

  “We can’t because we have taken a vow not to change anyone ever again. Of the original three men who set this all in motion, there is only one remaining, and he will not condemn another soul.” Jace must have seen the confusion on my face. He searched for a better way to explain the situation to me, but it still seemed so strange that the Council would let themselves die out before creating another immortal. Jace continued to speak as I mulled over his explanation.

  “Ella, you must understand. For some, eternal life is nothing but an eternal prison. It is not what you think. The longer you live, the more you stop blending in with those around you; you are forever frozen in your current state.”

  I looked at Jace. I saw a twenty-three year old man instead of the two hundred fifty years he really was. It had to be difficult to be considered a young adult by people who were only a fraction of your true age.

  “Your priorities change, and your outlook on life become different. The things you once lived for mean less and less until your very humanity becomes a distraction. There are only a few people in this world that will live until the sun no longer burns. Trust me, those immortals see eternal life as a burden, not a gift.”

  I couldn't help but feel sorry for Jace. He had spent his entire life making sacrifices to fix the mistakes I had made with my powers. Footsteps behind me pulled my attention from Jace and to the dark figure standing in the woods. Kale stood with thick branches in his hands. He walked over and placed them onto the fire.

  “Hélène sacrificed herself so the Council would have enough time to regroup. She didn't reveal to the Dark One where the next Arc would be born, and that gave us time. While he searched for you, we doubled our numbers and searched for ways to kill him and his minions.”

  After he’d unloaded the wood, Kale stood a few feet away from the fire and scanned the area constantly. We’d found out the two girls that had been murdered were thought to be me. When it turned out Laurent’s men had captured the wrong girls, they were given to Laurent’s men. Jace had calmed down a little since his and Kale’s last interaction, but they still seemed on edge around each other. I moved away from the fire and checked my watch. I needed to be getting back soon because I had to work the next day, and it was getting late. I decided I would stay for one more hour to learn more about my past. It was Kale’s turn to guard me tonight, so we could walk home together and talk. I knew the only person I would get answers from was Jace, so I went for it.

  “Okay, so I understand I can see the past, but what else am I good for?” I asked.

  Jace had told me I was used to recall secret events like where the Council had met and plotted against Laurent, which is what I was calling him, because the Dark Prince seemed too scary.

  “Well, all Arcs have the ability to see the birth of the next Arc with uncanny accuracy. You will know the date, time, place, and the name the new Arc will have. It is said there will be an Arc born that will be able to see the future, and this Arc will be able to see the fall of the Dark One. And therein lies the problem. I fear the Dark One will want only to kill you because you are the only true threat to him.”

  “You don’t know if I can even see the future.” I was close to pleading with Jace to take back his words, but from the look on his face, I could see this was hard for him too. The fact I was putting the people I cared about in danger worried me so much I was shaking from fear and cold.

  Jace suddenly went still as Kale put his arms around me, pulling me close to him and the sharp scent of spicy winter that was so familiar to me. His grasp was so tight it seemed to hold me still, not allowing the shivers to course through me.

  “Let’s get you home. It’s getting late, and you’re freezing,” Kale whispered. He turned me around to walk away, ignoring Jace completely.

  I looked over my shoulder and said goodbye to Jace. I would see him again next week when it was his turn to guard me. As Kale and I walked back through the woods, his grip on me loosened. I was happy we were so close, but I still felt betrayed, and I wasn’t sure how to deal with it yet. While on one hand keeping me in the dark kept the visions at bay, it also put me in danger.

  “I hate that he tells you things. It worries you unnecessarily, and I am sure you have enough on your mind as of late.” Kale stared straight ahead. He still held me close.

  I thought Kale was talking about me and school. But I wasn’t missing any assignments, and my grades were fine. I knew he didn't know about my problems with Alex because I hadn’t told him.

  “I’m okay, I guess. I mean, we haven’t seen any of Laurent’s men even though they have been here, and I have you and Jace, so it—”

  “No, I mean with the way things are between us now because of my actions. I am truly sorry I kept things from you, but I feel as though I should be the one to worry about Laurent for you. I wanted to protect you from the dark and never reveal myself to you, so you could have a normal life after Laurent had been handled, but it seems that will never happen for you.”

  “Oh.” I wasn’t as upset as I had been before because I knew he had my best interests at heart.

  “I understand now, but at the time, it just seemed like I couldn't trust you. That was hard because my heart told me that I could, but you proved I couldn’t,” I said honestly.

  “I am truly sorry. I know this is difficult for you. I know what to expect from all of this, and I now understand how discomforting this can feel, the uncertainty of it all, so I guess we should talk.”

  We were at the tree that led back to the Carltons’, and I shivered from the cold. I wanted to learn more about this bloodlust and what I could do to help stop it from resurfacing again.

  “Do you want to come in?” I asked hesitantly.

  Kale hadn’t been in my room since before the lodge, and he hadn’t made any moves to get there. When it was his turn to guard me, he stayed outside near the shed or in the woods. Every night I had to force myself to sleep. Knowing how close he was and not being able to see or touch him sometimes felt unbearable. Kale looked from me to the house and shifted his weight. It seemed like he was stalling while mulling over whether he should accept the invitation. I would have felt embarrassed if it weren’t for the look of surprise on his face.

  “It’s late, and you have to work tomorrow,” he replied.

  I hadn’t had to work in the past two days, and my first day back was guaranteed to be hell. I’d been ignoring Mia’s calls. It was close to two a.m. and I needed to be in to Knope’s at eleven.

  “Yeah, you’re right. I guess it can wait.” I turned to walk to the house, but was stopped short by Kale’s hand.

  He reached for me and pulled me back to him. His breath was warm on my ear, sending chills down my spine. In that moment, I realized how much I’d truly missed him and the warmth his gifted, cool hands gave.

  “Tomorrow night, I promise.” He released my hand.

  I wondered if Kale no longer trusted himself around me. I’d been keeping my hair up
in a tight bun and continued the use of my parka’s hood. It seemed to do the trick, but Kale still seemed a bit on edge when we were alone, and that worried me. How could he protect me from Laurent’s men if he was constantly trying to protect me from himself?

  ***

  As I geared up for work, my cell phone rang. It was Mia, and of course I took the tongue lashing I had been avoiding for days. I deserved it, I guess.

  “So, I guess now you don’t know how to answer your phone?”

  She was mad, but I could also hear a bit of relief in her voice, and I assumed it was because I’d finally answered.

  “Well?”

  “I've been busy, Mia.” I had been busy learning from Jace and trying to figure out things with Kale, not to mention the issues between Alex and me. He hadn’t been sure if he wanted to transfer after our last conversation, and Eric used his inability to choose as proof he hadn’t thought his decision through, so Alex went back to New York to finish the semester. It was hard to let him go, but I believed it was for the best. I didn't want him to stay because of me because I wasn’t sure what would happen with these missing girls, and I didn't know how I felt about him yet. I was confused and afraid. The man from my past and the one from my present often battled in my head, but it was always a draw. I cared about them both, but I was still confused about what to do.

  “So it’s not because Alex and I have been talking?”

  I felt a pang of jealousy, but quickly pushed it away. It wasn’t fair of me to feel that way because I’d told her Alex and I weren’t a couple. But knowing he had feelings for me and was talking to her while barely saying a word to me hurt. Suddenly, the blueberry muffin I was eating didn't taste as good, and it seemed ignoring Mia the past two days had been a stupid idea. Had I talked to her, I would have known she and Alex had been keeping in touch.

  “Hello?” Mia yelled, jarring me from my thoughts.

  “I’m here. Like I said, I was busy. I wasn’t ignoring you.”

  “Well, I’m just saying you haven’t picked up your phone for me, and Alex is tight-lipped about what’s going on between you two and why he isn’t sure if he is transferring. And where the hell are you? Aren’t you supposed to be here in ten minutes?”

  I looked at my watch. It was ten fifty a.m. and Kale hadn’t showed up yet. I ran to the front door and looked out to see a sleek black car purring in the driveway.

  “I’ll call you back.” I hung up before she had a chance to reply. I was nervous because I had never seen the car before. Tinted windows betrayed nothing of the car’s contents or owner. There was no license plate on the front of the car, so I couldn't see if it was someone from Virginia or out of state. Before I pulled my cell back out to dial Kale, my phone rang with his special tone. I answered as quickly as possible, hoping he was somewhere close.

  “Hey, I’m glad you called,” I said, before his warm voice cut me off.

  “Are you going to stare at me from the window or are you going to get in the car so you’re not late for work?”

  My surprise quickly dissipated and turned to awe and confusion. Where did he get that car, and how could he afford it? I had already decided my assumption he was homeless was incorrect, but for some reason I still had a hard time imagining him in a house with normal things instead of in the mausoleum. I managed to say “okay” as I headed out the door and to the car. The inside smelled new and sharp along with a whisper of Kale’s spicy scent. I wanted to ask him about that, but I couldn't gather up the courage, so I asked the first stupid thing that came to mind.

  “You can drive?” I had to resist the urge to slap my forehead.

  “I hope so,” he said, with just a hint of amusement.

  We pulled out of the driveway and headed toward Knope’s. I wanted to stay in the car and speak with Kale, but I was almost late. All I could do was thank him for the ride and remind him I got out of work at four. I ran into the store past a glaring Mia and into the back and placed my things away. In the rush to get there, I had forgotten to figure out a way to explain Kale to Mia so if she spoke to Alex, he wouldn’t be upset. I headed to the cash register to see Mia glaring out the front doors at Kale’s car. It was in the same spot where I’d left him. Confused, I walked up behind her and waited for Kale to pull off.

  When he didn't, Mia turned to me with an annoyed look. “So, is this the guy you were talking about giving you rides to and from work?” she asked, in a calmer tone than I expected. “Nice car—2011 Lexus GS 450h. He should have gone with the LS 600h, so I guess I will have to ask him why he didn't.” She walked out the double doors toward the car.

  I raced after her, ignoring the biting cold, not caring the store was left unattended. I didn't know how to ring a customer up, and I hadn't see anyone in the store when I went in—not even Mr. Knope. Mia glided to the car like an ice skating princess as I tripped over ice and snow. When she reached the car, she tapped on the driver’s side window. I went to the passenger’s side to get in. Kale ignored Mia’s tapping and unlocked the door, allowing me to get inside. Before turning his head to acknowledge Mia, he looked at me and frowned.

  “Where’s your coat?” Before I could answer, he started the car and blasted the heat. Finally, he rolled down his window to a pissed off Mia, her face contorted with annoyance.

  “I am not standing…” she trailed off as she ran her eyes over every inch of Kale.

  I was sure she saw the same thing I did when she looked at him: those dark eyes that said he was mysterious and maybe even dangerous; his sable hair, glittering in the sunlight, begging to be touched; his sexy lips that seemed to be made solely for me, the bottom just a bit plumper than the top; and the smooth planes of his pale face that gave him the movie star good looks while mirroring no one she’d ever seen before.

  Suddenly, the jealousy I’d felt earlier over Alex and Mia’s conversations seemed less important. I could feel my face heating with the anger that poured from my mouth.

  “Mia, how long do you plan on staring at him? Didn't you have a question to ask about the car?”

  I sounded more irate than I’d planned, which caused a smile to play across Kale’s lips and woke Mia from whatever daydream she had slipped into.

  Mia physically shook her head as if to dislodge the cobwebs that had formed. “Oh, yeah.” She had forgotten the reason she had come outside. Mia recovered quickly, but disregarded the car topic and moved on to another subject.

  “So, you’re the one that will be taking Alex’s place until he moves back home?” she asked with interest.

  Kale looked at me questioningly, and I knew what he was thinking.

  “We decided since it’s dangerous for us girls to be alone, we would shadow each other; Alex and me together and Brett and Mia together,” I said quickly. I noticed him cringe slightly at the word together, but I knew he understood what I meant, so I didn't go any further with my explanation. Mia was shivering and pale.

  “You should get inside the store. You look like a Popsicle. You’re going to get sick,” I told Mia, and to my surprise it worked—not because she was told, but because her lips were turning blue. Once Mia was back inside, Kale turned to me. He stared at me for a while before he spoke.

  “We have agreed Jace and I will protect you; that mortal boy can’t keep you safe from this threat, Ella.”

  “I know, and I agree, but they don’t know the truth, so they think any girl could be next. Alex and Brett worry about us, and they want to watch out for us. I wish I could tell them the truth, but it would only put them in jeopardy, and they would never believe me.”

  Kale leaned over and placed his hand on my cheek, a soothing touch that did exactly that.

  “Trust me. I do know this is hard for you, but Jace and I will protect you for as long as we need to.”

  When I walked back into the store, Mia was at the counter. She had grabbed her coat from the back. She rubbed her hands together, warming them.

  “I guess he is just going to s
it out there for your entire shift?” she asked.

  I looked out the doors to see Kale’s car hadn’t moved. I was glad he was staying because I knew the danger in being anywhere alone. I’d yet to see any of Laurent’s men, but Jace and Kale had assured me he would soon find where I was and send them for me. Once that happened, Jace would want me to go to the Council with him for protection, and Kale wouldn’t be allowed near me once I was there. That was when the real war started, so I’d been racking my brain to discover a solution. So far I had nothing.

  “I guess.” I moved from the doors to the counter to stand beside her. Today I was supposed to learn to use the register. I tried to ignore her pointed looks. I didn't want to talk to her about Alex or Kale. The situation had turned into another stress in my life that I didn't have time for. I thought about coming clean to Alex, Mia, and Brett about everything I’d learned from Jace and Kale, but that was a stupid idea. If it weren’t for my stay in the Ocean Trace psych ward, I might have been a more credible person to talk about vampires and immortals. Actually, I would think even a sane person crazy if they came to me with such a tale, but a person who had a record of psychotic breakdowns would probably end up in custody.

  “Are you gonna make me ask?” Mia questioned.

  “Ask,” I said, knowing I couldn't stop her. She could ask whatever she wanted, but I didn't have to tell her anything.

  Mia looked at me, her blue eyes blank. I knew what she wanted to know, and I knew her feelings toward me would probably change based on the answer I gave her.

  “Who is he really? I want to know if he is the reason Alex isn’t coming back.” She placed her hands on her hips and eyed me like a hawk.

  It was actually funny how she tried to intimidate the answer from me as if the one-hundred-ten-pound blonde could do anything more than pout. I didn't owe her an answer, and I sure as hell wasn’t about to let her think the stupid pose she was in scared me in the least.