Ariel Rising

by A. J. Sparber

  Chapter 15

  Fridays are usually pretty sedate, but Davin talks me into a quick sparring session. He thinks I’m holding back, that I can generate significantly more hand speed. So he gets on my case, like a drill sergeant. It’s totally out of character for him, and it throws me completely off-guard.

  “Come on, Serafeím, you can do better than that!”

  I’m afraid of hurting him, so I’m holding back.

  I jab at his facemask, adding a little more speed.

  “That was really pathetic. This session does not end until I see real speed.”

  Okay, he asked for it. It’s not like I’ll kill him. If I hurt him, he’ll heal in a few minutes.

  I focus on Davin, circling him slowly. His instincts might be better, but I’m faster. I imagine he is a Zon. I’m suddenly filled with a concentration of energy I’ve never felt before. It’s as if a balloon is being inflated—inside my chest. It feels dangerous. I see an opening, and as I prepare to strike, a bolt of energy surges down my arm. I divert the angle of my strike away from Davin’s head at the last possible second and scream as energy explodes from my fingertips. Holy crap!

  There’s a smoking hole in the wall behind Davin. Tal is standing nearby, wide-eyed. He stares first at the hole, then at me, and then back to the hole. He doesn’t say a word.

  Davin gathers himself quickly. “Ari, that was incredible.”

  “Incredible? I could have killed you, Davin.” I’m shaking like a leaf. “That’s it!” I scream. “You’re fired! I’m not doing this with you anymore.” I end in a whisper, as tears flow down my cheeks.

  “I’m sorry, Ari.” He moves closer and reaches out to take me in his arms.

  “Stay back,” I warn. “What the hell did I just do?”

  “You projected energy.”

  “I didn’t try to. It just happened. How…?”

  I feel like a loose cannon. Literally.

  “Thalia was right. She had a feeling you could,” Davin says.

  He actually looks proud of me.

  Tal jogs over, followed by Thalia and Seto—my agility trainer. Concern is etched on their faces.

  “Are you alright, dear?” Thalia asks, as she wraps me in a protective hug.

  “I feel drained,” I say weakly.

  “What you just did was remarkable, Ari,” Thalia says, rubbing my back.

  “The problem is I have no idea how I did it.”

  “If you did it once, you can do it again. You just need practice. Davin will work with you.”

  She looks excited, but I’m not sure I can handle any more surprises.

  “Okay,” I reply, as I begin to feel my composure returning.

  I look at Davin with remorse in my eyes. “Come here, Warrior,” I say with outstretched arms. I hug him close and whisper, “I’m sorry.”

  “I’m sorry, too,” he says.

  “I just need to stay calm until I can figure out how to control this new feature of mine. I would hate to sneeze and take out half the mall. You know?”

  I wish the new me came with an operating manual.

  “We’ll work on this next week, dear. Go clean up and relax,” Thalia says, smiling warmly.

  Davin and I walk toward the lounge area. Thalia is the most powerful Sage on Olympus. She and I have become good friends. “She’s special.”

  “Thalia?”

  I nod.

  “You have no idea.” He sighs. “Thalia is to Olympians what an amalgamation of Einstein, Gandhi, and Mother Teresa would be to humans.”

  “She’s a peaceful brainiac-altruist, huh?” It’s reassuring to me that the woman I’m becoming so reliant on—and attached to—is important to Davin, too.

  “Those are excellent analogies.”

  “How come she looks older than you?”

  “She dresses older,” he says with a smile. “She can look quite young when she wants to.”

  “How come she’s not bound?”

  “She was bound once,” he says.

  “What happened?”

  “Her Promise is Fallen.”

  “Is he alive?”

  “Yes. He is on Earth.”

  “That’s horrible. I feel so sorry for her.”

  “It’s been a very long time. But yes, it is very sad. When bad things happen to good people, it…” He pauses and takes a deep breath. “She is like a sister. I love her very much.”

  “That’s sweet, Davin.”

  “I’m known for my sweetness, Love.” He shoots me a little grin. An adorable, dimply little grin.

  I crinkle my nose. “Better take a shower then, Darling. You don’t smell all that sweet right now.”

  “I am deeply offended. I am crushed. I am…”

  “Going to take a shower?”

  “Yes.”

  The shower feels wonderful. I towel off quickly and say a quick thank-you prayer for Olympian hair dryers. My thick black mane goes from wet to dry in under five seconds. A little eyeliner and lip gloss, and my face is presentable again.

  I throw on a little white dress, and can’t help smiling. Davin bought it for me, last week, during an afternoon shopping excursion. He’s so sweet. And his fashion sense is impeccable.

  When I emerge from my changing room, Davin is sitting in the lounge, sipping a drink and looking gorgeous in black dress slacks and a green V-neck pullover that matches his eyes. He stands and smiles when he sees me. “You look lovely, Ari.”

  “I am so sorry I snapped at you earlier. Forgive me?”

  “There is nothing to forgive.”

  I wrap my arms around his waist, pulling him close as I whisper, “No matter what happens, Davin, you are my Warrior. My angel.”

  His lips brush against mine, making me burn with desire. “I’m happy that you feel that way,” he whispers back.

  “Really?” I feel lightheaded.

  “Really.” His lips explore my neck, lighting little fires inside me. “You are my strength and my weakness,” he says softly, as his lips dance across the sensitive skin behind my ear.

  He lifts his head, and as his lips seek mine, all traces of self-restraint crumble into little pieces. I fall into his kiss, surrendering to my passion, and pull him close—so close that he gasps, as my fingers hungrily trace every muscle in his back. Then, taking his face in my hands, I stroke the perfect lines of his jaw, as I whisper, “I want to be your everything.”

  His expression melts into an angelic smile. “Do you have any idea what you do to me, Ari?”

  “Of course,” I say breathlessly, as I bury my head in his shirt. “I work very hard at it.”

  “Your efforts are quite effective,” he says softly.

  “I think we need to go because I’m about to totally lose control.” But instead of letting him go, I tighten my grip.

  “Mmm,” he moans, as his hand strokes my back, hovering just north of naughty.

  “Your left hand is not helping at all, Davin.”

  “I was hoping to keep you here to see what happens when you lose control.”

  “We really should go.” I groan. “Prom is tomorrow, and I need my beauty rest. You haven’t forgotten the prom, have you?”

  “I haven’t. But if I did, Tal would remind me.

  Tal. And Ella. Complications. Davin has been my protector for the past two months. He drives me to school every morning, and picks me up each afternoon. If I go shopping, he tags along. Don’t get me wrong. I really enjoy being with him. But…

  If I go somewhere with Ella, Davin brings Tal along. And Tal is almost as gorgeous as Davin. And Ella is…

  Well, Ella is crushing on him. And she invited him to the prom. I told Tal that if he breaks her heart, I’ll break his face. He thinks I’m kidding. I’m not.

  “Yeah, I’m sure Tal will remind you.”

  “I’ve talked to him about it, Ari. He will be careful with her.”

  “Yeah, well we’ll see how that goes.” There’s nothing I can do about it. I can only hope that Ella doesn�
��t get too attached.

  “Are you still excited to go?”

  “Yes, but only because I’m going with you. I’m dying to see you all dressed up.” I smile, as I picture him in a sophisticated black tux. My oh-so-suave Warrior.

  “I have something for you, Ari.” He places a small box in my hand.

  I open the box and gasp. “It’s beautiful, Davin.” It’s the most unique pendant I’ve ever seen—a bas-relief infinity symbol, sculpted from smooth black stone. In the center is a round metallic setting, holding a smoky gray gemstone. The chain is choker-length and silver-colored. It looks like woven metal.

  “You really didn’t have to do this,” I say.

  “I had it made because I wanted to. The design symbolizes eternal beauty and the jewel, a black diamond, symbolizes strength.” He smiles as he takes the pendant from the box and clasps the chain around my neck.

  I shiver with pleasure as his hand brushes my skin. Then he steps back, admiring the pendant, like an artist would his greatest masterpiece.

  “It complements your hair and your eyes perfectly.”

  “And you—you complement me perfectly.” I wrap my arms around him and bury my head in his chest. “I will treasure it forever, Davin.”

  I will treasure him forever.

  Chapter 16

  When I get home, I change into yoga pants and a tee, and then plant myself on the family room sofa. As I switch on the TV, an episode of Ancient Aliens is playing. The narrator catches my attention:

  Is it possible that tales ranging from fallen angels to Greek demigods, to alleged extraterrestrial encounters are all one in the same? And if so, is it all part of a greater agenda? Might examining these experiences provide not only evidence of extraterrestrial evolutionary intervention in the remote past, but also reveal the true nature of mankind's origins?

  “Uh-huh,” I mumble to myself, “If they only knew.”

  “Did you say something, honey?” Mom asks, as she comes through the front door.

  “No. Just talking to myself. How was your day?” I ask, as I mute the TV.

  “Busy,” she says, as she plops her purse down. “Looks like you had a busy day, too. Is Thalia overworking you?”

  I must look as tired as I feel.

  “Just an ordinary day. Davin and I worked out at the gym. I’m just a little tired.”

  “I see. And why are you blushing?” she asks, with twinkling eyes. “On second thought, please don’t answer that.”

  “Mom! You’re getting as bad as Ella.”

  “Poker face, honey. Always remember your poker face,” she says with a big grin. “So when were you going to tell me what’s going on?”

  That catches my attention. “Huh?”

  “Ari, have you ever been able to hide anything from me?”

  “You think I’m hiding something from you?”

  Does she think that Davin and I are having sex? Does she suspect I’ve changed?

  She sits down beside me and begins stroking my hair. She’s trying to make it easier for me to come clean.

  “Ari…”

  “Mom?” I brace for the worst.

  “There is nothing you can say that would shock me, honey.”

  Oh yes there is.

  “What do you think is going on?” I ask, innocently.

  “I’ll make it easier for you, sweetheart.” Her expression is serious. “As a physician, I am trained to be observant. As your mother, I’ve had the privilege of observing you for over eighteen years. I haven’t missed much.”

  “What? What haven’t you missed?” I ask, as panic begins to set in.

  She drapes an arm around my shoulder. “Well, let’s see. You never get sick—not even a cold—and you exhibit an extraordinary ability to heal. Am I correct?”

  “Yes.”

  “And remember the time you tried to make French fries and splashed hot oil on your arm?”

  “Boy, did that hurt. Yes, I remember.”

  “I dressed the burn and then drove you to the hospital. Dr. Ellison removed the dressing, laughed, and called me a doting mom. The second degree burn I’d witnessed in the kitchen was nearly healed. Not even a blister remained. Shall I go on?”

  “Uh, no,” I mumble. But I know her question is rhetorical and I brace for more.

  “Then, of course, there was your encounter with Luke—“

  I cut her off. “If you knew all this, why didn’t you run tests on me?”

  “I have, Ari. I’ve analyzed your blood, your urine, your DNA. Your body is unique. It’s as if God got bored with ordinary humans and decided to get a little creative. I have no logical explanation. Much of what I’ve seen under the microscope simply cannot be explained. Some of the conversations I’ve had with Thalia—about her research—make me want to pick her brain. But I can’t risk anyone finding out about you. The consequences could be dire.”

  “Yeah. I could get dissected, huh?”

  “It’s not a joke, sweetheart.”

  “Oh, I know. And neither is what I’m about to tell you…”

  I tell her everything. The whole story. Mom gives me her full attention. When I explain the healing at the Falls, her eyes widen in shock, and she turns white as a sheet.

  “It was a soft blue light? Are you sure?”

  “I’m positive. Why?”

  She rubs the bridge of her nose—a telltale sign that she’s tense. “Several times, when your dad and I were intimate, I glimpsed soft light radiating from his hands. It was as if he was giving me a part of himself. The feeling was indescribable.” A tear trickles down her cheek and she brushes it away.

  “Oh, Mom,” I whisper, as I wrap her in my arms. “Dad was…”

  “Unique,” she says. “Honey, look at me.”

  “Huh?” I’m confused.

  “What do you see when you look at me?”

  “I see a very beautiful woman.”

  She smiles. “Think, Ari. Be objective. Look past your familiarity. How old am I?”

  She is gorgeous and youthful. Far too youthful for a woman her age. “Forty-three—”

  “Exactly. Do I look forty-three?”

  “Well, no. But there are celebrities and…”

  “Yes. But they don’t leave their homes until they’ve had a professional makeup job. And they tend to have lots of cosmetic surgeries. The bottom line is that if I really wanted to, I could easily pass for twenty-five.”

  “How long do you think it’s been since you stopped aging?”

  “I’m not exactly sure. A long time. At least ten years. At first, I thought I was just lucky. That I had good genes. But I don’t get sick. Not even a cold. And, just like you, I heal very quickly.” She sighs. “Do you believe me?”

  “Of course I do.”

  “You have no idea what it’s been like. Most women spend thousands on cosmetics and clothes—to make themselves look younger. I, on the other hand, do the complete opposite. It’s really a pain in the butt. Sometimes I just want to throw on a little black dress and—”

  “Mom!” I laugh out loud.

  “Yes, well. It’s been frustrating.”

  “I’m sorry, Mom. I think I understand.”

  “Are you sure you understand, Ari? Do you understand that we cannot stay here very much longer? People will realize. They’ll start to ask difficult questions.”

  And there is the very real risk that we will pique the government’s curiosity. “I know, Mom. I really do. Is your DNA the same as mine?”

  “It’s similar. But your body is able to manufacture very strange clusters of cells. I thought it might be a malignancy, but it is anything but that. The clusters are like an armada of little ships that patrol your body. They are also a little like capacitors because they are full of energy. I just don’t have the equipment to do anything more than observe them.”

  “And you don’t have these cell clusters?”

  “It’s a little different. You have two types of clusters. One type is bound to specific organs
and structures. I have those, too. But I do not have the roving clusters—they are unique to you.”

  “So I really might be a new model, eh?”

  “It would seem so,” she says.

  “Mom, how did Dad and you meet?”

  “You’ve never asked me before. It’s a good story,” she says. “It was during my senior year of pre-med. I’d been accepted at the UVA School of Medicine and I was freaking out over the tuition. I was freaking out over a lot of things.” She pauses. She’s remembering the accident.

  Her parents and kid brother were killed by a drunk driver during the summer after her freshman year. Fortunately, her parents did leave her a house that was almost paid for and enough insurance to fund her undergraduate degree. But she was just a teenager, and teenagers don’t deserve that kind of burden.

  “I had just turned twenty-one,” she continues, “and I decided to go to a bar with some friends. I guess I drank a little too much. The next thing I knew, a couple of guys were hitting on me. I’m not sure how it happened, but they managed to drag me outside into the woods, behind the parking lot. I was terrified—and helpless. That’s when Dad showed up. He moved lightning-fast. Before I could say a word, both of my attackers were on the ground—writhing in pain. He picked me up, as if I were a child, and placed me in his car. We spent the night in his house. This house. And he was a perfect gentleman.”

  “You were attacked by two strange guys, and you went home with another strange guy? I’m surprised at you, Mom.” I chuckle.

  “Yes, well, it was certainly impetuous of me. But I felt such a connection, and so totally comfortable. I was upset and he made me feel better. He even made me a cup of tea. I was in the guestroom, but I wouldn’t let him leave me. I made him lay down beside me—on top of the covers, of course. He was a perfect angel.”

  “Of course,” I say, as I roll my eyes.

  “You’re having fun with this, aren’t you?”

  “Yeah. I am, actually.”

  She sticks out her tongue, then purses her lips. “By the time I fell asleep, I was hopelessly in love with him. We were married three months later.”

  “Wow. That was fast. A whirlwind romance, huh?”

  She nods slowly. “It was. But we were perfect for each other.”