by ERIN BEDFORD
When she finally stopped talking long enough to take a breath, I laughed into the phone. God, I loved that girl. “No. I haven’t been abducted by funeral stalkers. Just my dad.”
There was silence on the other line before she said, “Oh.” Just oh. No judgment. No wondering what happened. Just oh. “Well, I guess that’s good.”
I snorted. “Good? You think my dad kidnapping me from my mom’s funeral. One that he was late showing up to by the way.”
“You didn’t call him. You can’t blame him for that.”
“So, beside the point.” I growled, continuing with my rant. “Not only did he kidnap me, but he brought me to fuck only knows where and just ditched me here.”
“Have you checked maps?” Nikki asked matter-of-fact.
“Oh. No. I just got my phone. Let me look.” I moved the phone from my ear and pulled up the map app. I hit the current location button and waited and waited.
Unable to find the location requested.
Of fucking course.
Putting the phone back to my ear, I snarled, “It’s not working.”
“Not working? Where are you? Jupiter?”
“I wouldn’t rule it out,” I muttered as I glanced out the long rectangle window of my stone filled room. My eyes fell to the courtyard filled with surprise-surprise stone statues. Long green rolling hills spread out around the black metal gate surrounding the building.
“Well when you figure it out call me. We have school to plan for and I’m not letting them pair me with some rando. I need you.”
I grinned at the desperation in her voice. “I love you too, Nikki. Can you tell my aunts-”
“Already done. I just told them you took off with your dad. They can figure out the rest on their own.” The smugness in her voice was one of the reasons I loved her so much.
“Thanks.” I breathed out a long breath and turned to my room. “I better figure out what the heck my dad’s minions packed for me.”
“Ew. He had minions pack for you?” The fact that she was more disgusted by that than that he’d kidnapped me told me where her priorities laid.
I snorted. “I have a hard time imagining him doing it. Can you?”
Nikki had only met dad once. Well, meet was putting it nicely. It was more of a brisk. This is my dad. Oh, look a work emergency. Gotta go. If he ever died that would be carved on his tombstone. Did angels die?
“Not hardly,” Nikki agreed with a snort. “Anyway, I’m glad you’re okay. Let me know what you find out. I’ll try and hold the fort down here.”
“You’re a saint. I might just tell you how you die after this.”
“No, you won’t.” Nikki scowled. “You’re worse than a cock tease I swear. Love you anyway.”
“You too.”
Ending the call, I turned to the bags by the twin sized bed and then to the pack of cigarettes in my hand. I really wanted a smoke but changing out of these clothes were edging on more important at the moment.
I hauled one of the suitcases onto the bed and unzipped it. To my relief right on top were my favorite pair of combat boots. I grabbed those and a pair of cut off shorts. I had to dig through my mom’s suitcase to find my collection of classic rock shirts. I pulled the AC/DC shirt from the pile and made quick work of changing my outfit.
My skin practically tingled from the joy of wearing my usual clothes. I found a mirror half hazardously hung on the wall and checked my makeup.
Good. I hadn’t turned into raccoon eyes between the funeral and my kidnapping.
I shoved my phone in my back pocket and a couple of cigarettes in my front pocket. I’d learned quickly in high school that walking around with a whole pack in your pocket was a sure fire way to lose your whole stash when you’re only going out for a single smoke.
Ready to go, I crept out of my room, my head swinging one way and then the other. I half expected my dad to have set a guard up for me.
I snorted. He trusted me far too much.
Or.
He trusted Azazel to keep me here.
I shuddered. I didn’t like to think of that. Who knew what that woman was capable of?
With no one there to stop me, I walked down the hallway and then the stairs Ayden had taken me up. My eyes kept track of the courtyard as I went searching for a way outside. Finally, after what felt like forever, I found a pair of double doors leading out into the fresh air.
My boots crunched on the gravel walkway as I made my way outside. The green shrubs lined around various statues. Many of them following the school’s theme. Angels fighting other angels. A single angel with a wings that spanned so far out I had a hard time wondering how anyone could move the thing. The whole place was creepy in general. The creepiest were the weeping angels. Their hands over their eyes as if they were waiting for you to turn your backs on them just so they could attack.
I shivered and made sure to keep them in my line of sight. Never could be too careful.
I moved over to the gate. Briefly I wondered if I could climb over it. Then I remembered I wasn’t good at athletic things and gave up on that idea. My hand reached for the bars but they bounced right off. Frowning, I tried again. I couldn’t even touch the bars? What was this a freaking prison?
Letting out a long groan of annoyance, I stomped back to the courtyard. Finding a good place to stand so I could keep watch, I pulled my first cigarette from my pocket. I set it between my lips and reached for my lighter…only to come up empty handed.
“No.” I groaned, pursing my lips around the butt of the cigarette as I frantically searched my pockets. “No. No. I did not fucking forget it.”
I pulled the cigarette from my lips and held my arms out to my sides as I screamed at the heavens. “Why? Why now? Is this all a joke to you?”
“Not particularly.” A rich deep voice answered me.
“Jesus Christ.” I jumped away from the voice and the person behind it, dropping my cigarette on the pathway. Black hair curled at the nape of the guy’s neck. His square jaw went well with the strong nose and bow curved lips. His white tee, dark washed jeans, and black boots already put him in the not so bad category compared to all the preppy kids I’d already seen here in angel school.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.” The smirk on the guy’s lips told me he wasn’t really sorry.
“Yeah, well you did.” I gave the guy a side eye as I shoved my hair behind my ear to bend down and pick my cigarette back up. Who knew when I’d be able to get more? I wasn’t about to waste it on a little dirt. I looked at it longingly. The likelihood that I’d get back to my room for my lighter and back out here before Ayden came looking for me was not good.
“Need a light?”
My eyes swiveled to the guy prepared to tell him to fuck off, but the finger held out to me with a flicker of flame on the tip stopped me. I stared at it with a mixture of caution and curiosity before nodding.
Placing the butt back into my mouth, I leaned in and let the mystery guy light it. Taking a deep inhale as I moved back, I closed my eyes in pleasure. Ah. That hit the spot.
“Bad day?” the guy asked, making crack one eye open to glance at him.
I held my cigarette in one hand crossing my other arm underneath it. “You could say that.”
“You’re new here.”
I rolled my eyes at his clear pick up line. “Oh, wow. You must be a mind reader. Congratulations on your astute observation.” I sucked on my cigarette once more, tapping the end to shake off the ash.
The guy’s lips curled up even further. “Actually, I am.”
“Am what?” I arched a brow.
“A mind reader.”
I cocked my head to the side. “I thought you were one of those elementals.” I waved the hand holding the cigarette at him.
Crossing his arms over his well-defined chest, he mimicked my head tilt. “Can’t I be both?”
I shrugged. “How should I know. Like you said, I’m new here.”
We went silent for a moment.
I tried to keep my mind blank. The idea that someone could peek into my mind without permission kind of rubbed me wrong. I supposed the same could be same for my ability. Not that I did it on purpose. I couldn’t imagine anyone wanting to experience what I did.
“Dex.”
“Huh?” I jerked my head in his direction.
“My name. You were clearly thinking what could this handsome guy’s name be?” He smirked and scrubbed his hand down his jaw where a five o’clock shadow had begun.
I snorted and shook my head. “You’re a horrible mind reader.”
Dex took a step toward me. I took one back. “I won’t bite. I just wanted to show you that you could relax.”
“Why?” I stared at his outstretched hand. No way did I want to see how this hottie died. I’d like to keep him unblemished for the time being.
“I can’t read your mind without touching you.” He reached for me again and I backed off once more, holding my hands up. My lit cigarette pinched between two fingers.
“No offense but I don’t touch.”
He dropped his hand and frowned. “Ever?”
I took another drag of my cigarette before dropping it. I ground it beneath my boot and said, “Not if I can help it.” I turned my back on Dex and started back toward the school.
“Hey, you didn’t tell me your name.”
I turned and walked backward as I smiled slightly. “No. I didn’t.”
“At least tell me what you are.” Dex called after me once more.
I pretended not to hear him as I headed inside, muttering to myself, “I’m not sure what I am anymore.”
Chapter 6
Dinner at the Fallen Academy wasn’t much different than in high school cafeterias. Except that the occasional outburst of magic from one student or another interrupted the otherwise normal meal.
“Not that I’m complaining, but where are the teachers?” I glanced around the dining hall not seeing any kind of grown up in charge person around. “You know the guard dogs?”
Joash laughed through his mouth full of potatoes. “Like they would deem us worthy enough to come down to watch us eat?”
My brows drew together in confusion.
Ayden groaned beside me. “What doofus here is trying to say is that we are being watched.” She gestured around us, but I didn’t see anything. “Some of the teachers are high level mentals. They don’t need to be in here to know what’s going on.”
My mouth formed an o-shape as I took in what she said. That was a bit creepy. It made it hard to think that I wasn’t being watched all the time. So much for my plan to ditch this place and head back home. With my luck Azazel would be alerted and then I’d have to deal with my dad all over again.
No, thank you.
“But don’t think they’re invading your privacy.” Zephyr pointed his fork with a piece of chicken on the end at me. “They aren’t perverts or whatever. At least, I hope not.” He gave me a shit eating grin that made me think he was doing way too in his free time.
Ayden scowled at Zephyr. “You’re just gonna freak her out now.” She reached to pat me on the hand, but I withdrew it before she could touch me. She frowned but didn’t comment. “What they mean is they only listen for trouble. I don’t know exactly how it works but it’s not like they are listening in on your every action and thought. Believe me, no one, not even them want that.” She gave the guys a pointed look of disgust.
They laughed as if to punctuate her point.
“Did you get your class schedule yet?” Coral sat down on the opposite side of the long table between the twins. The way she gave each of them a flirty smile made me wonder if she weren’t dating both of them. Or at least fantasizing about it.
I sipped from my glass of tea and nodded before scooping mash potatoes into my mouth. When Coral seemed to want a more extensive explanation, I swallowed thickly and gulped down some more tea. “Yeah, I got it. Though, I’m not sure why I need to take any of these classes. I already graduated high school. I’m supposed to go to college in the fall.”
The others were quiet for a moment. They exchanged a look that I didn’t understand and then Ayden turned to me. “I know it doesn’t seem like it but it’s really a good thing you’re here. I was where you were a year ago. Well,” she smiled softly, “I was starting my senior year and then they came for me. If it wasn’t for Azazel and the rest of the Nephilims I don’t know if I’d be here talking to you today.”
“Came after you?” I frowned hard. “Who? No one’s come after me.”
“The angels.” Bayu the quieter of the twins answered. “They hate us.” He stabbed the meat on his plate with his knife, hatred in his eyes. “They’d kill us without blinking and our family.”
I stared down at my plate not sure how to take all this information. “I’ve never seen an angel aside from Azazel.” And my dad but they didn’t need to know that.
“Count yourself lucky then.” Ayden explained, her eyes flickering to the twins. “Some of us weren’t so lucky to make it here without losing someone to them.”
My stomach twisted at the thought. I had lost someone. My mom. Was she telling me that wasn’t a coincidence? I wasn’t the sharing type but that didn’t mean I couldn’t use other ways to get my answers.
“What about your parents?” I prodded without looking into interested in the answer. “Didn’t they have something to say about you being brought here? The human ones, I mean.”
Coral perked up. “Oh, my mom was totally for it. She sent me to the academy when I was six. I still see her all the time. It’s just safer for me here.”
I glanced around the table wondering the rest of their stories.
“There’s a mixture here. Some of us have happy beginnings like Coral. Others got here because the angels finally found them.” Zephyr explained, tossing an understanding look to his brother.
My fingers caressed the mark on my hand, wondering if they had the same thing happen. “How do they find you? Do we give off some kind of beacon?”
“Not that we know of. Most of us don’t exactly have powers that are easy to hide. When a kid starts fires with his hands word tends to get around.” Joash offered me a lopsided grin.
“How’d you get here?”
My head jerked to Bayu. “What?”
“Didn’t you say you came from a funeral?” Ayden glanced over my clothes. “Before you changed. Which we’ll need to make sure you get a uniform too. Can’t have you tempting the status quo.” She winked at me and giggled.
I offered her a tight smile. “Great.”
“So,” Zephyr prompted, continuing where his brother left off. “What’s your story?” Zephyr seemed far too interested in me. I didn’t do well with boys. Or men. Anyone other than Nikki honestly. Once they found out I didn’t like to be touched they were quick to put me in the weirdo category. I had a feeling that my usual wouldn’t scare this one off.
I busied myself with my food, moving the green beans on my plate from one side to the other. “Yeah. My mom died.”
There was a collected inhale before an arm went around my shoulders.
“Joash, no!” Ayden cried out as my senses were overcome with the vision. My fingers dug into the side of the table as I struggled to breath. Water clogged my throat. My lungs. I couldn’t scream or even fight back. Steam filled the water around me, leaving my attacker a murky figure with long shadows spreading out around them.
I coughed and grabbed my chest, my mind thrown back into myself all at once.
“Geez, are you okay?” Coral gasped, a small sound that made me hold a hand up.
“I’m fine. Just give me,” I gasped, my throat raw and lungs still aching. “Give me a minute.”
“Damn it, Joash.” Ayden threw a piece of broccoli at him over me. “I told you not to touch her. She’s gonna think we’re a bunch of insensitive assholes.”
“Which is why she should be sitting with us.”
I blinked rapidly my breathing finally coming back to no
rmal as I slowly turned toward the new voice. A girl about mine and Ayden’s age stood with two others. She wore the same uniform as Ayden except her necktie was purple versus the red of Ayden’s. I hadn’t really noticed the color coordination until now. Looking around the table I saw that each student wore a color coordinating with what their power was. Red for fire. Blue for water. I guessed brown was earth and green for air? I didn’t know how they figured that but then again, I wasn’t planning on staying long enough to find out.
The girl before me and her friends wore purple. Was that what I was going to be reduced to? A color? I didn’t even like purple.
“I’m Charity. This is Bishop and Dharma.” She gestured her silvery hair toward the two next to her. The guy’s, Bishop, black hair hung over half of his face, hiding a stoic expression. The other girl had pale strawberry blonde hair. Her blue eyes stared into me as if she were trying to read my soul. I immediately wanted to run and hide.
“Elle.” I jerked my head to her. “Why should I sit with you? Is it some rule?”
Taken back by my question, Charity’s mouth dropped open before clamping shut. “No. It’s just the way it is. Elementals,” she gazed around the table with clear disdain, “Don’t understand. They have no boundaries and will only cause you further pain. We,” she gestured to her and her friends, “can help you reach your full potential and we know a thing or two about the hazards of our abilities.” She gave me a knowing look.
“Hey, we can be helpful too.” Zephyr argued, his brows furrowed as he glared at Charity.
“That’s so sweet.” Dharma purred, her eyes locking onto Zephyr. “I’m sure she’ll think that when you try to go in for a kiss and end up shooting your dirty thoughts all over her.”
Zephyr’s face turned beet red, his fingers curling into fists. “I would not.”
“It’s no use arguing with them.” Ayden sighed and shook her head. “They’ll be three steps ahead with anything you try to say.” She turned to me. “It’s up to you, Elle. I can’t make you stay. And Charity is probably right.” She shrugged. “I can’t even begin to help you figure out your powers. I can be a friend though.”
