Inception (The Reaping Chronicles, 1)

by Haviland, Teal

  Gabrielle was really hoping that the latter wasn’t the case. She’d prefer that it would be numbers instead of power. Numbers would be easier for her to deal with.

  “Who’s the ol’ she-demon?”

  Gabrielle’s mood shifted in the wrong direction as soon as she thought about Mara. Actually, it was more Mara with Lucas that made her blood feel like it was on fire in her veins. Apparently, Phalen caught the change in her demeanor, or maybe the Divine light her human body tried to conceal wasn’t doing a very good job of containing her fiery color when she became angry. Whatever the reason, Phalen’s brows were raised.

  She’s very perceptive, Gabrielle thought.

  I can be, Phalen communicated back to her.

  “Sorry, Phalen. I forget sometimes that an angel can still hear my thoughts when I’m in human form. Somehow, it seems like you shouldn’t be able to.”

  “Coming through loud and clear, sister.” Phalen smiled and relaxed as Gabrielle’s intensity smoothed out a little. “So, back to the she-demon … what’s what?”

  “I ran into her yesterday, that’s all. She doesn’t seem to be all that powerful, though.”

  Phalen stared at Gabrielle for a minute, not backing down from Gabrielle’s gaze, with clearly readable disbelief that she was getting the entire story. “Uh huh …”

  Gabrielle liked Phalen. She had guts. She was one of the only angels Gabrielle had ever met that wasn’t intimidated by her position. Phalen respected and admired her powers and abilities—that much she made clear—but she showed nothing of being timorous in her eyes or demeanor.

  Phalen prodded further. “Are you going to tell me what’s really up? Or am I going to have to figure it out on my own?” She waited for several seconds to tick off the clock, then continued. “Because as we just confirmed, I’m a very perceptive type of gal, and I will figure it out.”

  Gabrielle sighed, wondering how much to tell Phalen. How much can I trust her?

  “You can trust me, Gabrielle.”

  Gabrielle looked at her and smiled.

  “Stop doing that, Phalen.”

  “Can’t. It’s in my nature. Stop thinking without blocking what’s going on in your noggin.” Phalen replied with a smirk.

  “Fine. I will.” Gabrielle smirked back. After a long pause, and another long stare-off between the two friends, Gabrielle told Phalen what was going on. She started at the beginning and left nothing out, divulging her little secret that had turned into a huge dilemma.

  She wanted to be with a human. At least, that was what her human body and emotions were making her believe she wanted. Which one it really was, her true desire or one created because of her human body, she didn’t know for sure. She did know that if she made the choice to be with Lucas, if that was ever even something that would present itself as an option, it would mean joining the ranks of the Fallen. It was completely forbidden by the laws Yahuwah set in place for all angels. She would not be forgiven. He destroyed life on Earth once already because of the many angels who had disobeyed that law.

  When Gabrielle finished, Phalen stared off into the distance as she let the implications sink in. When she spoke, she still focused on the same unseen thing she’d been looking at through the silence.

  “Wow, Gabrielle … I mean … just … wow.”

  “Yeah. Wow.”

  “You say something’s different … or, off, about Lucas. Like what?” Phalen finally focused her eyes back on Gabrielle.

  Now Gabrielle fixated on something in the distance only she could see as she thought back to the conversation she and Lucas had as the rain pummeled her car. She’d seen him later at lunch and in the class they shared. He walked her as far as he could to her next class and later, after school, they’d chatted for a few minutes, but there seemed to be something between them now. Something unseen but definitely interfering with the ease they’d had together the day before and for the first part of the conversation that morning. There was a wall building, but was it hers or his?

  Or are both of us piling on the stones?

  She was sure at least part of it was her. She’d had a moment in the car, knowing that being with him was absolutely not the right thing to do, that it would have only one end—a heartbreaking one.

  Gabrielle realized Phalen was still waiting for an answer. She took a breath, then began to explain.

  “I was speaking Enochian to myself this morning when he was in the car with me, scolding myself in a come to my senses moment.” She glanced at Phalen and saw a little relief in her eyes. “Don’t get your hopes up. It didn’t last … at least not completely. I am thinking more rationally about it now, though. Anyway, Lucas repeated a couple of the words.”

  “He understood the Divine language of angels? How can that be?”

  “Exactly. How can that be? He shouldn’t have been able to. And I don’t believe for a second that he just got lucky. The words don’t sound anything like the languages spoken on Earth—not even close.”

  “Yeah …” the word trailed as Phalen stared off into the distance again. She came back quickly this time, though. “Gabrielle, you asked me to come to help you because you are having a difficult time sensing demons with all the protection you’re under.” Phalen stopped as if she expected Gabrielle to know where she was going. “Is there any chance he could be one of the Fallen? That, for a moment, he let his guard down and slipped up?”

  “It would explain some things … but I don’t think that’s what it is.”

  “You don’t think … or don’t want to? Because I wouldn’t be so sure. I’m looking forward to getting a gander at this guy. Not only because he’s somehow made one of the most powerful angels ever created desire him, but also to see if he has black goo for blood. What color are his eyes?”

  Gabrielle smiled. “The bluest blue you’ve ever seen.”

  “No chartreuse around the edges anywhere?”

  “Not a speck.”

  “Hmm … maybe contacts … but they’ve never been able to wear them. Their tears are too caustic.”

  Gabrielle didn’t want to admit it, but Phalen raised a good possibility that she hadn’t wanted to ponder or voice—good and terrible. It would clarify more than why he understood Enochian; it would also explain why she could sense him so strongly and why he was involved with Mara. Not that he’d have to be a demon to be involved with one, but it made the idea more reasonable in her mind.

  But, if he is a demon, why would he make me feel so at peace … less broken?

  None of it made any sense.

  “Gabrielle, are you sure he’s not a demon?”

  Gabrielle thought through everything she knew about him so far, which wasn’t much really. But she knew how he made her feel. She couldn’t believe a demon could give her the sense of peace he did.

  “I don’t think we have to worry about that.”

  “If you say so.”

  Gabrielle laughed. Phalen always said the same thing when she was going to take a leap of faith with her—Phalen’s way of letting her know she had Gabrielle’s back and was on her side.

  “I say so.”

  Both Gabrielle and Phalen knew they would find out soon enough, anyway. When Phalen saw him, she should be able to tell if something wasn’t right unless he had a very powerful veil in place, making him a very powerful demon if he did.

  “Tomorrow,” Gabrielle said in almost a whisper, “we should know.”

  Gabrielle didn’t realize her brows were drawn until she felt them relax as Phalen lured her attention to her outstretched hand, holding something in purple wrapping.

  “Gum?”

  Gabrielle and Phalen rode to school the next morning with the intention of not only finding out what was making her feel so uncomfortable, but also if Lucas was one of the Fallen.
/>   She still didn’t feel like she was going to be disappointed with what Phalen told her about Lucas, but her confidence had waned a little after the dreams she’d had last night. Maybe it was the mere idea that he could be one of the Fallen in disguise, but her dreams about him weren’t of the happy variety. As usual, she couldn’t remember details, but the feelings she woke with several times during the night were ones she couldn’t mistake—absolute trepidation and sadness.

  “Hey, sister,” Phalen said as she looked at Gabrielle from the seat next to her.

  Phalen had changed her appearance, once again. She was back in the same one she had used the day they went to the beach to test out Amaziah’s theory that Gabrielle would be spotted quickly—fair coloring, blue eyes.

  “That’s what I’m calling you from now on by the way,” Phalen continued. “At least when we’re not going through life-and-death stuff.” She waited, as if to see if Gabrielle was going to protest. When Phalen got a smile and an amused shaking head back, she continued. “Anyway, sister, have you decided what my role is going to be in your life? I mean, you’re suddenly showing up with a tall blond with legs for miles and an ‘I dare you to mess with me’ attitude and you’re going to say what, exactly, when people ask you who I am?”

  Gabrielle laughed. “I hadn’t thought about it, really. I guess we can just make you my sister. My adopted sister. We certainly don’t look like we came from the same gene pool.”

  “K … that way it will make more sense when I call you sistah.”

  Gabrielle found herself laughing again. Phalen had a way of making her want to smile even when she didn’t know if there was much reason to.

  Phalen reached into her pocket and brought out a pack of grape bubble gum.

  “Phalen, you may be addicted.”

  “Hey, I can’t help it if this stuff is yum. I could be wanting worse things on Earth.” Phalen moved forward in her seat so she was looking Gabrielle right in her eyes. “Like a romantic relationship with a human,” she said with a wink, then sat back.

  “We all have our vices, I guess. Even angels.”

  “Agreed, but mine won’t get me booted from Heaven.”

  “I know … but … it feels right.”

  “How can a relationship between you and a human be right?” Phalen waited but got no answer. She tried again with a different question. “Are you sure you’re not just trying to use him to forget about Javan?”

  ‘Ouch.’ Gabrielle thought, but this time, she expected Phalen’s reply.

  ‘Yeah,’ Phalen responded, ‘I thought that might sting a bit, but maybe you need to consider the possibility.’

  “You have a point. I will.”

  “Hmm … “

  Gabrielle looked at Phalen quizzically. “What?”

  Phalen watched Gabrielle while blowing one of her purple bubbles. This one ended up so big that Gabrielle worried she’d be helping Phalen get the grape stuff out of her hair. Instead, Phalen sucked it back in her mouth.

  “I just expected more of a retort from you on that one. You getting soft?”

  Gabrielle laughed. “Not hardly, Phalen. Since I try not to think about Javan, I just hadn’t thought about that angle. I need to, though, before Lucas or I get in any deeper. Besides, you’re always looking for a fight, so you’re always waiting for a retort.”

  “Not with you, sister, not with you. I’d be a fool to ever want to go up against The Angel of Karma. And I’m no fool.”

  “No, Phalen, you’re not,” Gabrielle said with a wink. “We’re here.”

  They arrived before most of the students so Phalen would have a chance to get accustomed to the surroundings. She would be able to discern the Fallen better if she already had a handle on the different energies in the area.

  While Phalen studied the first prospects unloading from their cars and getting off busses, Gabrielle searched for Lucas. As the clock ticked off the minutes before the first bell, he was nowhere to be seen.

  “Still no Romeo?” Phalen asked without looking at Gabrielle.

  “No.”

  And that seemed strange.

  She’d expected the morning to be like the last two had—with him arriving early like her and having a few moments together before school started.

  “And we have our first sighting.” Phalen pointed.

  Gabrielle followed the direction of her finger and eyes toward the gym. She thought she’d stopped breathing, knowing that was where Lucas would be. With a relieved exhale, she began to breathe again.

  “That’s Mara.”

  “Pretty little demon, isn’t she?”

  “Yes, she is,” Gabrielle agreed with a biting tone.

  “Don’t worry, you’re much prettier. Lucas would be a fool if he ever got the choice and didn’t pick you. And that’s, of course, based on looks alone. Sometimes, your mood is worse than a demon’s. If that info is thrown in, it might be more of a toss-up.” Phalen laughed at herself, slapping her leg as she enjoyed the moment.

  “You’re really feeling full of yourself today, aren’t you?”

  “Yeah, well, someone has to lighten things up around here.”

  Gabrielle looked back at Mara. She was standing near the back of the building where a walkway led to the rest of the school, talking to someone who was shielded by the corner of the main building. More like flirting heavily. Mara tossed her head back in laughter, her long dark hair easing further down her back when she did. She brought her head forward again and stood on her tip-toes, moving forward slightly so that her head was mostly out of view. Whomever she was talking to remained completely out of sight, but Gabrielle saw two masculine hands settle on her shoulders.

  Definitely flirting.

  “She’s not very powerful, Gabrielle. Not really. And I’m not seeing a lot of other activity. I’m not sure what’s making you feel so out of whack here.”

  Gabrielle started scanning for Lucas again. She saw Nonie pull into the lot, and Nate came rolling in right after his sister. She watched as Nonie got out of her car and walked toward where Nate was still inside his.

  Maybe Lucas rode with him.

  Gabrielle waited, but the only person who exited was Nate. Gabrielle let out a frustrated sigh.

  “What is it?” Phalen asked.

  “Nothing. I was hoping Lucas rode with Nonie or Nate since I hadn’t seen him yet, but he’s not with them.”

  “Who are Nonie and Nate?”

  “Close friends that live across the street from Lucas. They’re right there.”

  Gabrielle pointed to the twins as they walked through the parking lot. Phalen followed her gaze and began to scowl.

  “Hmm … that one’s interesting.”

  “Who?”

  “I guess it’s Nate if he’s the one with the pretty blond who’s not so unpretty himself.” Phalen pointed to make sure she was looking at the right teens.

  “Yeah, that’s Nate. What’s so interesting about him?”

  “Something’s not right about his energy. It’s … fuzzy. Wavy.”

  “Wavy? What does that mean?”

  “I don’t know how to explain it better than that. I’ve never seen energy like it. Very weird. It’s like looking at something with the heat waves from Hell between you and whatever it is you’re looking at.” Phalen continued to scrutinize Nate as he began to take the steps two at a time to get to the front doors of the school. “Oh, wait a minute … no, he’s looking fine, now. Maybe my discernment was just protesting all this activity before I’ve had a proper breakfast.”

  “You could have eaten at my house if you wanted to.”

  “I did want to. No offense, sister, but you need a little variety and more abundance in your cart next time you go to the grocery.”

  “Whateve
r,” Gabrielle said through laughter as the first bell rang.

  “Wait a second,” Phalen said, “what’s with the heaviness? It’s like the heavens just settled a little lower, right on top of me.”

  “That’s exactly what I’ve been talking about. Do you see anything different?”

  Phalen scanned the area again slowly. When her attention was back on the gym, she stopped.

  “Nothing but another weird fuzziness over the gym and that flock of crows staring at us. I don’t care for crows … creepy little black-feathered things bringing dark omens and superstitions.”

  “Where?” Gabrielle asked as she looked. Phalen was right. The crows perched on the roof of the gym seemed to be looking right at them.

  Like the ones I saw the first day of school … maybe the same ones. Gabrielle thought. “Yeah … but there’s one superstition about them that’s correct.”

  A chill shot through Gabrielle.

  As she was about to say something to Phalen, movement caught her eye. Mara had thrown her arms around whomever she was talking to. This time, Gabrielle could see the face that belonged to the mystery guy along with the rest of him as he moved toward the gym doors. His arm was around Mara’s waist, her arms draped around him, and her head rested on his shoulder.

  Lucas.

  Chapter Twelve

  Lucas ~ Lover

  Lucas didn’t have time to deal with Mara. But she had cornered him on his way to gym first thing in the morning, on a day when he didn’t have enough fight in him to be the jerk he needed to be to get rid of her.

  He hadn’t slept at all the night before. All he could do was think about how, prior to yesterday morning in the car, everything he was experiencing with Gabby had felt so right, and now he felt like she’d drawn a line a mile wide between them that he had no hope of crossing. The most frustrating part of it was that he didn’t know what he’d done to spook her. He’d run the conversation over in his head so many times it made his brain hurt. Her entire mood changed when he understood some of the words she was saying.