Inception (The Reaping Chronicles, 1)

by Haviland, Teal

  Her brother was back again.

  But for how long?

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Gabrielle ~ Human Emotions

  Gabrielle chose to let her human body rest without her after she made sure Grayson, Rissie, and Phalen were taken care of in Corstorphine. The guilt she carried grew heavier after seeing the reaction of the other Shifters when they saw the state Grayson and Rissie were in. She hoped by staying in her true form she would receive a premonition or Knowing without losing any of the information it contained, but nothing new was shown to her.

  It was nine o’clock on Saturday morning when she returned to get ready for Lucas to pick her up. After what had happened the night before, when she almost lost more of those she cared for, her need to be with him was stronger than ever.

  There had been a time, for a very long time, when Javan was the only one I ever thought I’d desire to be with. Things change. Even what we think is unchangeable.

  But was it her human body’s emotions making her feel she was falling for Lucas? Or was it real? Gabrielle wasn’t sure, and she didn’t know how to find out. She’d been drawn to him with just the visions, and the feeling of peace and happiness was a definite whether in her Divine form or her human one. That feeling of peace would end at some point; there was no escape from it. She would have to deal with the loss just like she had with Javan. The only difference was that she knew the end was coming with Lucas, and it was coming in about three months. She hadn’t had that knowledge with Javan.

  What are you doing, Gabrielle?

  The question lingered as she showered and dressed, and it continued as she wasted time flipping through channels on her television, not really noticing anything on the screen as the images took turns trying to capture her attention. None did.

  She looked at the clock on the mantle again. Ten forty-eight.

  Any time now.

  Several very long minutes passed, and she looked at the clock again. Ten fifty-seven. More minutes trudged through human time.

  Come on, Lucas.

  The knock on her door finally came, and Gabrielle made her way to the entry as calmly as she could. Her desire to see Lucas was almost overwhelming. As she opened the door, she tried to slow the bounce of her heart.

  Lucas was there. He was safe. Smiling. Standing in front of her in long khaki cargo shorts and a blue, unbuttoned shirt, the long sleeves rolled up like there was nothing to be concerned about— no demons around every corner, no creatures lurking in the shadows of his world, no epic war on the horizon. He was unaware of it all. The thought made Gabrielle a little mad though she didn’t know where the anger was actually coming from. And she didn’t want to dwell on it. She quickly diverted her thoughts back to what she saw in front of her—back to Lucas.

  He wore a white t-shirt under the button-down that was snug enough that she could begin to make out the muscles it tried to conceal. A terrible urge came over her to kiss him, but she pushed it back to where it had come from. There was more intensity between them the more time they spent together. She worried it wouldn’t be long before she’d be unable to hide her growing feelings for Lucas from Amaziah. For all she knew, he was already aware. He could easily have someone watching her, not to spy but to ensure her safety, especially since Javan made his appearance.

  “Hi, Gabby.”

  “Hi back.” She resisted the urge to wrap her arms around his neck and let her lips softly touch his, knowing her desire could quickly escalate into a much more risky embrace, but she couldn’t help wondering what it would feel like.

  “Are you ready?” he asked.

  “I think so,” Gabrielle responded, looking down at her clothes as if to ask him if what she was wearing would be appropriate.

  How can I go wrong with sweat pants and a t-shirt for touch football?

  “Gabby.” Lucas slowly looked her over. “Only you could make that outfit … look that good. Really, is there anything you can put on to make me want to look at you less? On second thought, don’t do that. You wouldn’t be able to, and I’m certainly not bored with the view.”

  Smiling, she stepped aside so he could come in, closing the door after him. She turned around, expecting him to be further inside the foyer. Instead, he had stopped and turned toward her. He was so close she almost ran into him. Without saying a word, he slowly brought one of his hands toward her face, stopping briefly as though second guessing himself. Gabrielle felt her pulse begin to quicken as his hand moved toward her cheek and rested on her face; his thumb slowly stroked her skin. Lucas never stopped looking into her eyes, and she felt pulled into them. The heat from his skin touching hers caused a chill, making her shudder. He smiled slightly. It felt like he was searching her mind and wanted to look even deeper, into her soul, making her feel he could pull her own to his. Her insides melted, and she loved it. She wanted to swim in that feeling—drown in it. She had never known sensations like this, not even with Javan.

  His face coming toward hers was almost a blur, and before she could stop him, his lips pressed against hers. A chill moved through her again, but she didn’t shudder. She pulled him closer, letting him push his body harder against hers. The combination of heat and chill crashing against each other in her body made her mind spin. Somehow, a rational thought broke through the chaos in her mind, through the yearning to have him even closer to her—to have him completely.

  I have to stop this!

  She felt her hands slip into his hair as she pushed herself even closer to him, denying the prompt to stop. His body reacted to hers as he kissed her more intensely. His hands began to search her body, and she felt their caress as they moved down her back, kindling more heat—more exquisite chills. She could tell by the urgency of his movement and breathlessness that he was feeling the same.

  All at once, an image flooded into Gabrielle’s mind. It was Javan glaring at her and Lucas, a remnant of her dream. It was swift and offered no additional information, but it was enough to force her to release Lucas. With her eyes still closed, she stumbled back slightly, catching herself on the entry table.

  “Whoa!” Lucas said, breathing as heavily as Gabrielle. “That was … intense.”

  Gabrielle heard him take several breaths before his breathing began to calm. All the while, she was internally yelling at herself about how completely reckless and dangerous that was for them. Particularly for her.

  “Gabby,” Lucas stepped toward her, “are you okay? I’m sorry. I … I didn’t mean for that to go so far, really. I’ve wanted to kiss you since I saw you in the parking lot that first day. It’s kinda like I was more, and more, unable to resist it. To resist … you.” He paused, waiting for her response. “Gabrielle, please look at me.” Lucas gently put his hand under her chin and lifted her head.

  Gabrielle opened her eyes. He was frantically looking at her. She reached up and softly, slowly traced the side of his face with her fingertips. “Lucas, you only did what I wanted to do. I’m not mad, not at all. I just need a minute to think. I wasn’t really expecting that. Not yet anyway.”

  “To be honest,” Lucas said, “I don’t know how it got out of hand. I was just going to steal a first kiss and wammo! I’m off in another world and, quite honestly, out of control. Are you an enchantress?”

  Gabrielle could tell he was trying to lighten up the situation, but he didn’t know he wasn’t far off the mark. All she could do was smile although she could imagine the trouble she was going to find herself in for this and the trouble it may cause. Her head was spinning with thoughts, coming at her so fast all they did was get tangled. The I shoulds and I wants were competing so vehemently, it was almost painful.

  “Lucas, can you wait for me out in the car? I need to pull myself together, and I think I can accomplish that quicker alone.”

  Lucas studied her face. She was sure it was an attempt to confirm i
t was really the reason why she wanted him to leave her alone. His expression told her he didn’t buy it.

  “Really, Lucas. Everything is fine. I’d kiss you right now to prove it to you, but I don’t think that would be the smartest thing … for either of us.” After another moment, Lucas turned and opened the door.

  “Take your time, Gabby.” He looked back as he spoke, showing a flirty grin, “I could use a few to calm down, myself.” Lucas walked toward his car, leaving Gabrielle with her warring thoughts. Thoughts about feeling so drawn to Lucas, a human whom she could be putting into terrible danger because of who she was, about the repercussions if she let things go too far—about becoming one of the Fallen.

  After several minutes staring at her reflection in the entry’s mirror, scolding herself, reiterating all of the bad outcomes that could result from the relationship between her and Lucas advancing, she made the decision to tell him she wouldn’t be able to continue seeing him. Again.

  “We’re both going to get hurt when I have to end my time here, anyway,” she told her reflection and sighed. The face looking back at her held sadness in its eyes.

  It was what she should do. It was what Amaziah would certainly tell her to do. And then he wouldn’t speak to her for at least a decade because he would be so angry about the line she’d crossed. Her time on Earth was too short, anyway. Three months would be gone before she knew it, and then she’d have to leave.

  Her plan to end things with Lucas came to an end itself as soon as their eyes met again. The moment he looked at her, happiness and peace began to move through her just because he was close.

  By just knowing he is here to be with me. Why shouldn’t I have happiness even if it is only temporary?

  She told him she’d forgotten her keys and ran back inside to grab them off the entry table, caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror again, told her reflection she was an idiot, and headed back out the door to spend the day with Lucas—a seventeen-year-old human she was apparently willing, for reasons she couldn’t begin to explain, to risk everything for.

  Even my life.

  And with that realization she had another—this wasn’t just her human body feeling something for Lucas. She, The Angel of Karma, was falling for this human. Hard. Her mind raced, and her stomach fluttered as she reached for the car’s door handle.

  “I’d ask if you’re ready,” Lucas said as she sat in the car and closed the door, “but last time I asked, you almost molested me … again!”

  “Whatever!” Gabrielle said through a laugh that slightly calmed her. She took a deep, quiet breath. “Just drive, I’m hungry. Where are you taking me anyway?”

  “How do you feel about the meal of champions … pizza? I may be a little superstitious, but I haven’t lost a game yet if I eat an Italian pie before I play.”

  “Sounds yummy to me!”

  Gabrielle liked pizza, but she would have tried pickled frog brains if it was while she sat across from him. Lucas had his hand on hers before he’d even pulled out of the driveway.

  “This should be pretty safe?” He said it more as a question than a statement. Gabrielle put her other hand on top of his as a response.

  “Are your parents home from Florida yet?” he asked.

  Gabrielle smiled and shook her head. “No, they’ll be there a bit longer.”

  Anyone who might wonder was told her parents were at their resort for an extended stay as a way of explaining her continued lack of parental supervision. Gabrielle didn’t think a seventeen-year-old living mostly on her own would cause any alarm, and so far, she’d been right. No one ever acted as if they gave it a second thought. Part of that was probably due to people’s perception that she was remarkably mature for her age.

  If they only knew …

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Gabrielle ~ Watchers

  Lunch with Lucas was incident free. No unwanted appearances from the Fallen, no crazed teenage make-out sessions, no strange or worrisome Knowings. Just the two of them enjoying being together, laughing and holding hands while leaning toward each other as close as the table would allow. Gabrielle appreciated the piece of furniture acting as an obstacle since the urge to kiss him again escalated with every moment she was near him.

  Before she knew it, they needed to leave to meet the others. Lucas drove through side streets to the church where Nonie and Nate’s father was a pastor, parked his car away from the others, and faced Gabrielle.

  “Hey,” Lucas began, “I know we need to slow down, and I don’t want to push things—at least, not on purpose. I want to be with you more, but I don’t want to mess anything up. I feel that you’re going to be very important to me.” He waited for Gabrielle to answer.

  “Thanks, Lucas. I—”

  Tapping was coming on the window next to her. It was Nonie, smiling from ear to ear. Lucas lowered the window.

  “Hey ya’ll!” she chirped. “I hate to break up your party for two, but everyone else is here, so let’s get movin’!” She bounded off toward the other teens waiting in the large grassy field next to the church.

  Gabrielle saw Nate wave to them from the waiting group. She waved back and opened the door to get out. There were about twelve other kids—a mix of boys and girls—not counting herself, Lucas, Nonie, and Nate, who looked as though they were going to play. Another twenty or so were sitting on the invisible sideline. Lucas lifted her hand to his lips and softly kissed it, then turned it over to kiss her wrist. He breathed in deeply. “I love the way you smell … like an angel.”

  A laugh escaped Gabrielle. Once again, the irony was lost to him. She kissed his hand and closed her door. As they made their way to the group of friends, Gabrielle noted how beautiful the day had turned out. The sun was high in the sky, and the air was cool with an almost constant breeze. She loved the way she felt at that moment—young and carefree, happy to be where she was, and especially, enjoying her company. She thought it was close to how happy she felt in Heaven. Only there was so much more to experience here.

  Humans don’t have it so bad, really, if they’d just learn to appreciate it.

  She wasn’t going to let her worries hinder her fun. Not today.

  If she had taken the time to look closely at her surroundings, her mood would have been quite different. She may have spotted the black Mercedes she’d almost hit days before parked far back in the lot, far enough away that Gabrielle wouldn’t notice it or its occupants. Inside appeared to be two average teenagers. Sitting. Watching. Listening. If Gabrielle had looked even closer, she would have recognized Mara and Javan. Javan was glaring at her and Lucas—with a look on his face that could kill.

  “Run Gabby! Yessss! Touchdown!” Lucas yelled, running toward her, arms in the air victoriously signaling his winning touchdown throw to Gabrielle. The teammates converged on her in a celebratory group tackle; everyone piled on top of each other, shouting the lyrics to the obligatory We Are the Champions chorus. Gabrielle and Lucas found themselves on the bottom of the pile, pressed against each other once again.

  Quietly, so no one else could hear, Lucas whispered to her. “They don’t have any idea how dangerous this is for us.” They stared at each other as the warm, tingling sensation ricocheted through Gabrielle until everyone peeled themselves off the pile. Lucas stood up and pulled Gabrielle up by her hands with so much force she landed in his arms.

  Whoa! He’s stronger than I thought he’d be.

  He smiled and took her hand, breaking their embrace, and the two exchanged high-fives with their teammates, Lucas shooting Nonie and Nate playful “loser” comments. Before the exhausted and dusty group of teenagers departed, they scheduled the following Saturday’s rematch.

  Gabrielle was glad to have another game to look forward to. She was tired but invigorated. She, Lucas, Nonie, and Nate made their way back toward their cars, poking fun at ea
ch other the whole way—laughing as though all four had been friends for many years. Gabrielle felt very close to all of them and didn’t want to dwell on the reality that her stay here was for such a short time, though she found herself doing so anyway.

  Nonie’s voice forced her thoughts back to them.

  “Gabrielle—hello. You still with us? I asked you if you’d like to join us for dinner at our house. What do you say? It’ll be fun. Mom’s making her famous spaghetti, and I think she made chocolate cake.”

  “Sorry … I went back to my home planet for a minute,” Gabrielle said laughing. “Sure! I’d never turn down pasta, especially if it’s famous. And I absolutely would be a fool to walk away from chocolate cake.” Gabrielle smiled at her, and the smile Nonie returned showed she was pleased she was coming.

  “Lucas,” Nonie said, “make sure my mom remembered to ask Emma. I think she’s getting forgetful in her old age, but don’t you dare tell her that I said so.” She winked at him and grinned.

  “I will. And, I won’t.”

  Lucas still hadn’t let go of Gabrielle’s hand, not that she wanted him to, but she noticed that Nate glanced down at their entwined fingers several times, and she sensed something. Maybe jealousy. She wasn’t sure, but she could tell he wasn’t thrilled about the pairing.

  I wonder why?

  “That was a great game, Nate,” Gabrielle said in an attempt to break the ice that seemed to randomly thicken between them. There were moments he was relaxed and talkative around her; other times, he wouldn’t say much of anything. Occasionally, she would catch him studying her as if he knew what she was or was aware of more than he needed to be. She felt like she had to try harder to convince him that she was just like them.