by Anna Santos
The waiter enquired, “Do you wish for an appetizer?”
“Do we?” Max asked Kyra.
She shook her head, so Max dismissed the waiter, leaving them to their privacy.
For the first time, Kyra didn’t know how to start a conversation with a guy. Still, Max seemed to be in his early twenties. His smile was breathtaking and his eyes seemed to sparkle.
“Are you nervous?” he asked, noticing how quietly she gazed at him.
“I…don’t know,” she confessed. “Do I seem nervous?”
“A bit. Perhaps, you’re disappointed.”
“No, I’m not,” she boldly stated, aware that she blushed harder for doing so. He was much better looking than she could have ever imagined. He was dreamy and that leather jacket looked great on him. “Are you disappointed?”
“I expected an angel, and I sure see one in front of me,” he whispered huskily.
Kyra looked at her glass of water as her stomach flipped and her skin tingled.
The waiter approached their table, poured the water into Max’s glass and left.
The silence between the two of them became slightly uncomfortable.
“I like your dress,” Max said, taking his time to stare at her from the contours of her body to her face.
Even seated, he knew she wasn’t petite. Her shapely legs gave her the perfect height. He liked her oval face. She had luscious pink lips and brown eyes that twinkled. The small beauty mark above her lip didn’t go unnoticed either.
“Thank you,” she said.
Her smile and the batting of her eyelashes captivated him and made his smile widen.
After waiting for so long, the moment for them to meet had finally arrived.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered, fully aware he was staring.
“For what?”
Her voice was soft which made his muscles tense and his throat to become dry. Before he spoke, he had to take a sip of water. “For acting strange. I just can’t stop staring at you. You’re beautiful.”
She diverted her eyes, a smile playing on her lips. “You don’t look half-bad yourself, but…I don’t want this to be uncomfortable. We’ve known each other for far too long to act as though we don’t already have a rapport.”
“I tell you that you are beautiful online, too,” he teased.
“Yes, you do.”
“Ask me anything. I know you have questions,” Max said to break the ice.
Kyra dared to look at him, relaxing her arms, even if his hand was still on hers. “How old are you?”
He interlaced his fingers with hers, making her heart beat faster. “I’m…nineteen,” Max said with a hint of a question.
“You’ve been Max19 since I was sixteen. Surely you must have celebrated your birthday since then,” she teased him.
“I don’t really know when I was born.” His lips pursed tightly as he rubbed the palm of her hand with his thumb.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Her face became solemn. “I didn’t want to pry. I didn’t know you were one of the orphans.”
“It’s okay. By society’s standards, I appear to be 21.”
Kyra nodded. “I’ve just celebrated my eighteenth birthday.”
“Yes, I know. Did you really like my birthday present?”
“Are you kidding me? I loved that book with the classic painters. It’s priceless. You must have spent a fortune!”
“It was in my family for a long time. I thought you might appreciate it.”
Kyra calmed herself down, staring at their hands again and then up at his face. “Is Max your real name?”
“No. My real name is Samuel, but you can call me Sam.”
“I’m Kyra,” she said.
“It’s a beautiful name.”
“Why didn’t you ever ask my name?”
“Because it’s just a name. There is so much more to you then that. Besides, I like calling you angel.”
Kyra grinned as the tornado of sensations caused her stomach to feel the butterflies. The sound of his voice lured her. “I like that you call me angel.”
“Are you less nervous now?” Sam asked, causing her breath to hitch. “You were uncertain about us meeting face to face. You were afraid it would ruin our friendship.”
“I’m curious why you wanted us to meet now. You never inquired about that before.”
“It wasn’t the right time to meet. We are best friends and…maybe it’s time for us to know if we can take this to the next level.”
Kyra’s mouth became dry. She had to drink some water to clear her throat and fight the wave of excitement and anticipation that assault her body.
Furrowing his eyebrows, Sam asked, “Did I say something wrong?”
“N-no. You are simply being very direct.”
Sam’s eyes lost their shine, and he removed his hand from hers. The skin-tingling that ran down her body disappeared at the loss of his touch.
Her reasoning kicked in. She had to be cautious. Even if his infatuation made her feel flattered.
“Sam, there’s a lot I don’t know about you.”
“I know, Kyra. Let’s eat, talk, and get to know each other. I’m excited to be here, and I’m going to be less abrupt with you. I swear.”
Sam’s words intrigued Kyra. She moved her hair, tucking it behind her ear. The touch of his hand on hers had left a wave of warmth behind.
“I love your jacket,” she mumbled, looking at the details. “It looks…real.”
“It’s real leather. It’s not a copy. I’ve had it for a long time. It’s a family’s relic.”
“It was your family’s…but you said…”
“I’m an orphan, but…it’s a long story.”
“Were you adopted?”
Sam nodded. Then, he looked away and stared at the tables. “There’s a lot about my life that’s not easily understood. I’ll eventually tell you everything.”
“My father died before I was born. But my mom remarried and I have a stepfather. He’s really cool. After the Big War there were a lot of orphans. You don’t need to be ashamed of that.”
Sam relaxed in his chair. “Let’s talk about your college.”
“No, let’s talk about your job. What do you do for a living?”
“I work security,” Sam explained.
“Oh! What sort? Do you program robots or build them?”
“Old school kind of security. I’m a personal bodyguard for important people.”
“Wow! But you’re so young. Why would you do that? It’s really dangerous, isn’t it?”
“There are some jobs that robots aren’t equipped for. But…I’m careful.”
“Do you travel a lot?”
“Yes, I travel around the world.”
“That’s really exciting. I’ve never left the city. Well, going to the mountains doesn’t count. I volunteered a year ago for a rescue mission in the Arctic, looking for endangered species. My stepdad didn’t let me go. He said I had to finish college and, when I was older, I could apply again.”
Sam frowned. “I thought you wanted to be a renowned artist.”
“Yes, but I also want to see new places. I’m planning to pursue biology after I’m done with my first college degree.”
Sam tightened his lips. “That’s new. You hadn’t told me anything about that.”
“Yes… It’s something I’ve been recently thinking about.”
“And what will happen to your dreams of selling paintings and creating a graphic novel about angels?”
Smiling, she replied, “I can multitask.” Sam seemed thoughtful, though, and her smile vanished. “Do you think I’m being silly for wanting to make a difference in the world?”
“No, Kyra. It’s really noble of you.”
She arched an eyebrow. “But?”
“I hope you’re hungry,” Sam said, leaning back in the chair.
The waiter arrived with their meals, and it was everything that Sam needed to change subject.
CHAPTER THREE—OLD MOVI
ES AND POPCORN
“You looked impatient when I arrived. Were you planning to leave?” Sam asked, taking a bite of his food.
“I… Well, I thought you had stood me up.”
“I wouldn’t miss this for anything in the world.”
Frowning, she asked, “How did you know it was me?”
“You were the only single girl in the room and the most beautiful one. It was easy to notice you.”
“You could have been wrong.”
He gazed at her with his starlight green eyes as he whispered in a husky voice, “If it wasn’t you, then I guess I just had to meet you anyway.”
Kyra’s lips curled into a smile. Excitement stirred in her stomach, and she felt flustered. He was charming and captivating. He was also really sexy—a very dangerous combination.
Breaking the silence, Sam asked after drinking, “Do you have any plans after this?”
Kyra blinked several times. He was going too fast. But he was apprehensive since he entered that room and was able to detect it. She was evolving and if he had sensed it and smelled her divine aroma, others were able to also.
She had grown up to be a very beautiful woman. Those clothes looked great on her, making her seem refined and more enticing. However, her scent made him realize that, soon enough, she would turn.
A woman of his species was something rare. Even if she wasn’t, he couldn’t help but think of how beautiful and attractive she was. How sweet and gorgeous she looked. He had to protect her from now on. Keeping others from trying to do her harm and defile her silky skin.
“I was thinking we could go to a nightclub to dance,” he said, interrupting the silence.
“I’m underage,” she reminded him. “I can’t drink and my parents want me home before midnight.”
“Fair enough.” He smiled. “We just have to have a long dinner to talk and get to know each other better. At least, face to face.”
She drank water. Her body temperature continued to rise as her palms started to sweat.
“Or…I could paint your portrait, if you would let me,” she said, biting her lip.
He grinned widely, making her blush harder. “That would be interesting,” he whispered, leaning forward and invading her space.
She gulped.
“Just so you know, I wouldn’t mind,” he declared. “But I don’t do nude.”
She chuckled, making him lean back in his chair and stare at her.
“Neither do I,” she assured him, studying his face and body. He seemed relaxed. He was tall and well-built. He would look extremely good naked. She glanced away, censored by her mind for having those thoughts. She was losing it.
“I’m really glad for being here with you,” he said.
She focused on him. “Why?”
“We always have interesting conversations. You actually know a lot about the Old World. Most girls of your age tend to talk about clothes, makeup, parties, music, and whatever rocks their worlds.”
“I’m a very curious person.”
“And you have a thing for angels.”
“It’s not a thing,” she denied, almost offended by his declaration. “You also know a lot about them.”
“Yes, I do.”
“So, you also like them. At least, all the mythology around them. Don’t you believe in God?”
“Yes,” he answered softly with the eternal smile on his perfect lips. Those lips and that face were the most fascinating things. She could almost see the pencil drawing it—immortalizing his beauty.
“I don’t believe angels exist,” she continued, trying to focus. “But I’ve liked to draw them since I was a little girl. The idea of perfection is very appealing to me.”
“Sometimes perfection can be tedious.”
“What do you mean?”
“One of the pleasures of being human is that they can learn from their mistakes. Perfect beings can’t make mistakes and aren’t allowed to have doubts.”
“Perhaps,” Kyra whispered, drinking water to clear her throat. “But wouldn’t it be great to be eternal and know all the mysteries of the world?”
Sam leaned forward. “What would you live for if you were eternal?”
“I don’t know,” she said, not expecting that question.
“Imagine if you knew all the secrets of life and still you had to keep living for centuries alone and without any reason to exist. Not even for love because perfect beings can’t feel incomplete like humans do. At least, it’s what they say about angels.”
“They are supposed to be sexless, but they have a purpose. They must protect humans.”
“They did a great job, didn’t they?”
The irony in his words made her furrow her eyebrows. “They don’t exist remember? All that happened was humanity’s fault.”
Sam placed his hand on the table and trailed a finger close to Kyra’s hand. “Let’s talk about earthly things. There’s an old movie in a theater not far from here. Would you like to watch it with me after dinner?”
She followed his finger and closed her hand in a fist. “What old movie?”
“A Walk in the Clouds,” he said, making her eyes glow.
“I haven’t seen that movie since I was twelve! And copies of it are really hard to find.”
“They are showing old movies this whole week in the old theater. And since you have the same taste in movies as I do, I thought you would like to see this movie.”
Kyra rested her right elbow on the table and laid her face against her palm. “I would love to, but…it’s a romantic movie. Are you sure you want to see it?”
“I won’t mind. Besides, I remember you said something about old Keanu Reeves’ movies and how you loved him as an actor, so I did some research and found that film program in a nearby theater.”
“You have a very good memory. So, my favorite Keanu Reeves’ movie is?”
“Constantine, of course!”
Kyra smiled.
For a moment, she had considered the idea that he wasn’t her real date. He was too perfect to be true. Still, he knew things she had only talked with him online, so he had to be the real deal.
“However, you also have a thing for the Lake House. Am I right?”
Sighing, she leaned back and rested her hands on her lap. “I wish I was born fifty years sooner. The world seemed so much more interesting back then.”
“Yes, it did,” he sighed a bit nostalgic. Then he looked at her and smiled again as a happy thought crossed his mind. “But this age is nice too because you are in it.”
Kyra blushed under his captivating gaze, fully aware that his line sounded cheesy, but she couldn’t help feeling flattered by his interest in her.
Sam asked, “Am I making you feel uncomfortable?”
“No, I’m still trying to cope with the fact that you are real…”
He drank water.
CHAPTER FOUR—THE INVISIBLE THREAT
Sam was so perfect that she never wanted their meal to end. Too bad they were already on dessert, something she didn’t usually eat. Yet, she wanted to talk to him a bit longer.
“I have an amazing collection of CDs if you would like to see it,” Sam said, eating a spoon of nonfat chocolate mousse. Not as good as the true recipe, but the new food was more nutritious and less tasty. He didn’t need to eat, though. In the past, it was something he did often to experience the different flavors.
His eyes looked on Kyra’s face, noticing her reluctance to reply to his proposal. He knew she was a good girl, a sweet girl who normally didn’t go to strangers’ homes, especially if it was a guy’s house. “It doesn’t need to be today.”
“Perhaps when we know each other better,” she replied.
“I have many CDs from the nineties and some from the beginning of the twenty-first century. I’m sure you will love them.”
“Where did you find them?”
“My foster father left them to me. He’s dead now.”
“I’m sorry. Do you live with your foster
mother then?”
“No. I never had a mother.”
“Oh…”
Sam smiled, not giving too much importance to that fact. “I live alone on the west side of the city.”
“I also live in that part of the city,” she said, amazed, even if the west side was huge.
“Perhaps we are neighbors without knowing it.”
“Perhaps.”
“We should get going if we want to arrive in time to see the movie,” Sam suggested, shifting closer and invading her space.
He couldn’t help himself. Her divine energy had increased since they met. Her smell was delicious! He had to be near her. It had been a few decades since he had felt so attracted to a woman. She wasn’t even one of his species yet. Still, he was drawn to her. She would be an amazing being after she turned. For now, she was a fascinating young woman.
Her inquisitive eyes next to his face woke him up.
“What?” Kyra asked, finding his silence strange. He had an absent-minded expression.
“I was trying to guess your perfume,” he whispered, staring at her lips so close to his.
“I’m not wearing any perfume,” she replied.
“You smell divinely, though.”
Kyra looked at herself and took a big breath to try to understand why he was saying that.
“Perhaps it’s my shampoo,” she said. “I don’t like to put on perfumes that disguise others scents around me.”
When she looked up, Samuel was gazing around while people got up to leave or came in to eat. She noticed he often did that, as if he was looking for someone or waiting for something bad to happen. That was when she noticed that he had a scent of his own, a pleasant mix of vanilla and spice. She leaned closer to better smell it, captivated as if a soft warm aura pulled her to him.
“What?” It was his turn to ask, when he saw her so close.
“You smell too,” she answered.
He smiled. “Good or bad?”
“Good. It’s a sweet fragrance of some sort,” she explained, pulling her chair closer to his.
Sam noticed her approach and was unsure on how to react to it. Her aura invaded his, making him shudder. They couldn’t be so near to each other, or he would eventually lose control. She was attracted to his divine force. If she was turning, it was only normal for her to feel compelled to be near her own kind. Besides, her humanity also influenced her reactions to him. He was a temptation to human senses.
