“That leaves the angels,” Draylan said smugly. “I told you I was helping.”
“What do we know about angels?” Alea asked Malachi.
“Most angels are born human females. But not just any girl can become an angel. They are chosen before birth. This destiny runs through a family bloodline,” Malachi said. “An angel’s birth usually skips a generation. And almost always, there is only one angel born per generation.”
“Chi, hand me that book.” Alea found the sentence she was looking for. “His blood can seek the predestined immortal,” she read to the group.
“Cale could’ve come up from the Infernus to find a predestined angel,” Evrik said. “Alea, read the last passage.”
“All that is good must protect the chosen few; it is their duty. Without divine beings, evil will control all. What secretly enters underground will be unleashed unto human society.” Alea raised her head up from the book. “So what are we saying here? The sanguis demon—Cale, is here to kill an angel.”
“No, he’s here to kill a human who is predestined to become an angel. She’s not an angel yet. Angels are immortal. They can’t be killed,” Evrik corrected. “If he kills her before she becomes an angel, there will be one less divine being. As the passage says, “Without divine beings, evil will control all. What secretly enters underground will be unleashed unto human society.”
“That’s a good reason for Cale to be here. Demons love control. They’ve tried to control the world for ages,” Alea said.
“Looks like it’s one point for Lucifer’s team.” Draylan laughed.
“And whose team are you on?” Alea glared at him.
“According to the last passage, it’s our duty to protect her.” Evrik eyed Draylan. “It’s your duty, too. You picked the good team, remember.”
Draylan threw his hands up. “How will we be able to find her? It could be anyone.”
“No, it couldn’t be just any girl,” Malachi explained. “Predestined angels don’t start to change until just after their eighteenth birthday. So we’re looking for an eighteen-year-old girl.”
"Who lives near Baltimore. She’s most likely a college freshman,” Alea finished.
“That narrows it down,” Draylan said sarcastically. “Baltimore only has a gazillion colleges. How old is Sam again?”
“She turned nineteen two weeks ago,” Evrik said. “Trust me. That’s the first thing that came to my mind. Luckily it’s not her. She’s past the age.”
“True,” Malachi agreed. “We need to set our focus elsewhere.”
CHAPTER 14
The cloud cover parted. Sam took a moment to bask in the warm sunlight. It was a relief from the cold air. The wind nipped through the tiny holes in her knit turtleneck sweater. She crossed her arms.
The back of her shoulders started to itch. Sam moved her shoulders around in circular motions and reached back to scratch the outside of her sweater. She was surprised to find a lump at the base of her shoulder blade. She felt the other shoulder blade. The same size bump sat precisely in the same spot. The bumps were the size of small gumballs.
“Is something wrong? You look cold,” Chase asked.
“I didn’t bring my coat,” she said with chattering teeth.
“Here, take mine.” Chase slid his hoodie off and handed it to Sam.
“Thanks.” She took it halfheartedly, temporarily forgetting about the bumps. There was nothing she could do outside. She’d have to look at them back in her dorm room, without Chase. “This doesn’t mean I’m not mad at you.”
They walked halfway back to the dorms in silence, passing the more modern-looking, newer academic building, where Sam took Computer Science. They passed the library. Chase slowed his pace until they were almost standing still. “Nothing happened, Samantha.”
“Look, what you did with Vicky is none of my business. As you said, I’m with Evrik. I’m fine.” Sam focused on a cluster of birds that had migrated north too early.
“Please look at me.”
Sam huffed, stopping to meet Chase’s baby blues. He looked sad and vulnerable as he spoke. “I meant what I told you. I do love you, and what happened between us yesterday wasn’t a mistake. I was upset when you left.”
“So you slept with Vicky because I didn’t sleep with you.”
Chase’s eyebrows dipped angrily. “I didn’t sleep with her. I couldn’t. When I kissed her, I thought of you,” he shouted. His jaw moved back and forth. He glared at the sky, composing himself. “I wanted you,” he said softer.
“Then why was she in your room at five in the morning?” she shot back.
“We fell asleep watching a movie. I only kissed her. That’s it.” Chase’s apologetic tone changed and he focused back on her, squinting accusingly. His expression was hard and cold. “You act so noble, but you can’t figure out who you want to be with. Is it me, or Evrik?”
“I told you. I can’t make any decisions right now. Not when I’m missing so much of my own memory. I don’t want to hurt you by promising you something I can’t fulfill once I fully remember everything.”
“You can’t just string us along. We both need to know where we stand.”
“Evrik isn’t pushing me.”
“And I am?”
“If you make me choose right now, without a memory to support my feelings, I will choose him,” she said through gritted teeth.
“Fine—” Chase conceded, ending the argument. “But I’m not giving up on you, or us.”
“You don’t want Vicky?” Sam bit her tongue.
“No.” Chase let out an exhausted laugh. “Can we drop this whole subject for now? I really don’t want to talk about her anymore.”
He held his arm down to her, reaching a stalemate for the time being. Sam slid her arm through his and they continued walking.
“I have lots of questions for you.” She raised her chin and half-smiled.
“Please tell me they don’t have to do with Vicky.”
“No, I’m done.”
“Good,” he exhaled.
They passed the beach and continued to the pathway leading back to the dorms. Sam squirmed closer to Chase to stay warm. “My first question is, what are you?”
“That’s open-ended.”
“I’m serious,” she pushed.
“I’m a type of shape shifter—a skin-walker.”
She pushed the breath out of her lungs. “You’re going to have to explain further.”
“I can turn into any animal I touch or want to become.”
“How long have you been able to do that?”
“I was born that way,” he said. “My father and grandfather are also skin-walkers. I knew I was different from other kids. I just didn’t realize how different until I hit puberty. Then my father told me what we were.”
The wind picked up, creating a miniature tornado of dead leaves on the ground. Sam squeezed her arms together tightly to keep warm. “And your mom?”
“She is one-hundred percent human, like you.” He pinched her arm with his free hand.
Sam looked at him sideways and continued. “Can you turn into an animal whenever you want? Like right now?”
He glanced around. “Yeah, but I’m not going to do it in the middle of campus for everyone to see.”
“I wasn’t being serious. I don’t really want to see the pit bull again.”
“Hey, that pit bull could’ve saved your life outside the bar. And the bear did save your life, so watch what you say about animals.” Chase stepped to the side, causing Sam to stumble into him.
“Are you going to answer my question or just keep playing around?” Sam grumbled, regaining her balance.
Chase straightened his spine, pretending to be prim and proper. “When I first learned how to shape shift, it was more difficult. It takes deep concentration, which requires discipline. Something you obviously think I don’t have.”
“Chase.” Sam pulled her arm out of his.
“Fine, touchy.”
; “Just answer my question.” She was starting to understand why he was her best friend and not her boyfriend. He would drive her crazy.
“At first I had to touch the animal I wanted to become. As I matured, it became easier. Now I just think about the animal, and I change. It’s pretty simple.”
“Then why didn’t you just say that the first time?” Sam rolled her eyes. “Does it hurt?”
He shrugged. “It’s a little uncomfortable. Again, now that I’m older, it’s not that bad. When I first started shape shifting, it was painful.”
As soon as Chase finished talking, Sam was ready with the next question. “You use the word skin-walker. What’s the difference between a skin-walker and a shape shifter?”
“A skin-walker is a type of shape shifter. I can change into any animal, but most shape shifters only shift into one type of animal.”
Sam’s eyes widened. “Like a werewolf?”
“Yes, werewolves are a different type of shape shifter,” he explained.
“Does that mean werewolves exist?”
“Yes, they exist.” He acted as if she should already know this. She was still trying to wrap her head around “skin-walkers.” “Do they live in the Infernus?”
Chase laughed. “No, they aren’t demons, and neither am I. Shape shifters are humans with the ability to transform into different types of animals. It’s a hereditary thing. I didn’t choose to be different, but now that I can control my ability, I like having it.”
“So then it’s a secret, I mean, what you are?” she said louder than she intended.
He hushed her with his hands. “If you keep talking at that volume, it won’t be for long.”
“Sorry.” Sam made a point to lower her voice. She was getting a little too excited. “But me. Why did you tell me? Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell?” she whispered. She knew he could hear her with his heightened sense of hearing. After all, he had heard Evrik earlier in her room.
Chase’s lips tilted into a sideways smirk. “I trust you more than anyone. I know you’ll keep my secret.”
“You do,” she said, surprised.
“Yes—you’re my best friend.” Chase shook his head, annoyed by Sam’s thickness.
“I’m so glad you walked into the laundry room that day. Otherwise we may have never become best friends.”
He looked away again, seemingly hesitant to talk. “There’s something you should know.”
“What?” She said in a less-than-surprised tone. She was ready for anything at this point.
Chase opened the door to their dorm, motioning for Sam to enter the lobby first. “I saw you before you saw me.”
She turned her head back over her shoulder. “I was really involved in the book. What does it matter if you saw me first?”
“Samantha!”
“What?”
“I mean, I saw you before the laundry room.” They stood next to a cluster of not-so-stylish but comfortable mustard-yellow fabric chairs.
She placed her hands on her hips. “Now you can explain. You’re starting to sound like a stalker.”
“One evening, I shifted at the reservoir. I like to shift near the water during the night because I don’t run into people. And there are miles and miles of forest to roam. I was out enjoying the nighttime air, going about my business freely, and I ended up at Evrik’s house.” He cleared his throat. “A convertible drove up the dirt road.” Chase’s face dipped. He was blushing. “I thought you were really pretty, so I swooped in for a closer look. I got really close to you, but you didn’t react the way other people normally do. You seemed fascinated by me.” He paused, wearing a straight face and clearly waiting for Sam to catch on.
Oh—finally getting it—she couldn’t believe it. Could it have been Chase? No, really. Sam’s jaw dropped. “You’ve got to be kidding me—you were the bat.”
“You remember?” He smiled widely.
“I remembered on my way to Evrik’s. You’re a stalker.” Sam punched Chase in the arm. “So, that night at the bar, when you were a pit bull, you changed back into yourself to save me?”
“Yes,” he said proudly.
“Why were you only wearing jeans? That was kind of weird.”
“I kept my clothes in the alley when I changed into the pit bull.”
“Uh—huh.” Sam waited, trying her hardest not to picture Chase naked.
“When I changed back, I only had time to throw on my jeans. You were about to be squashed by a taxi.” He shook his head. “Why did you jump into the road anyway?”
“A pit bull, I mean you, were chasing me. I wasn’t going to let you just eat me for dinner.”
Chase laughed. “Pit bulls don’t actually eat humans.”
“But they bite and—” Sam stopped talking. “Never mind. So the rest of your clothes, and your shoes, where are they?”
“They’re still in the alley, or a homeless guy’s wearing them,” Chase said, with a sideways smile.
“Sorry about the hair spray. At the time I didn’t know it was you.”
“I recover pretty quickly. It only stung for a moment.”
Sam’s cell phone rang. It was an unknown number. After deliberating for a fraction of a second, she decided to answer. “Hello.”
“It’s Cale,” he said in a deep, rough voice.
“What?” Sam said nervously.
“Who is it?” Chase mouthed.
Sam shook her head.
“Meet me later, outside.” Cale’s words were forceful.
“How did you get my number?” Sam said, trying not to alarm Chase.
“Who is it?” Chase repeated.
“I don’t know if I can—” Sam’s voice broke.
“Meet me outside after dinner. The woods off the pathway,” he instructed firmly. Sam knew the spot.
“Fine.” Sam snapped the phone shut and chucked it onto a chair, hitting Chase in the arm.
“Hey there, Pedro Martinez. Watch your pitch.”
“Pedro who?”
“Never mind, he was a major league pitcher. You’re such a girl,” he said, flicking her arm.
“Uh, that hurt. Go up to your room. I’m going to have a bruise now.” Sam rubbed her arm.
“Why are you in such a bad mood? Who was that?” Chase asked.
“Don’t worry about it. It was no one important,” she dismissed.
“Samantha, something’s wrong with you. Who was that?” He blocked her so she couldn’t pass.
“Don’t worry about it, and move.” Sam pushed on his arm, causing him to stumble back.
Chase eyed her uncertainly. “Where did you get that sudden strength?”
“I don’t know. I didn’t mean to push you that hard.”
Chase’s playful smile changed to an expression of concern.
CHAPTER 15
The sun was gone, replaced with an orange marmalade moon. The large perfect circle sat behind a moving string of shadowy clouds. Sam stood next to the entrance of her dormitory, wishing she hadn’t told Cale she would meet him. Who did he think he was, ordering her around? And more importantly, why did she listen to him? Tonight was it.
Sam walked toward the oak trees. Her skin began to prickle and she felt like she had been punched in the gut. It didn’t help that all she could stomach for dinner was a bowl of Cocoa Puffs. An uncomfortable lump formed at the base of her throat. She swallowed, forcing it back. For a brief moment, she realized she should have brought Chase with her. It was hard enough to shake him after dinner. He was so clingy, as if he didn’t want her to be alone. And he kept obsessing over her strength. It was a one-time thing. Why couldn’t he just let it go?
She took a left and moved into the grove of trees. Dried leaves crunched under her boots as she descended deeper into the woods, to the same spot where Cale had led her the night before. She spotted him leaning against a tree trunk and stumbled back. He was dressed in all black. His hair and features were so dark he blended into the night, making him almost unnoticeable.
&
nbsp; “Good, you came.” Cale’s voice was deep and hoarse. He moved from his leaning position to greet her.
Sam didn’t speak. She glanced past him, focusing on another bouncing bright ball of light. Only this ball was different than the last two she’d seen—much brighter, illuminating half the forest behind Cale. She smelled the sweet fragrance of honeysuckles. It reminded her of her aunt. They used to pick the honeysuckles off a vine that wound around a fence lining her grandmother’s yard. A warm, reminiscent feeling traveled through her. She imagined putting the soft flower up to her lips and sucking the candied nectar from the core.
Cale grabbed her arm. “What are you looking at?” he said sharply.
Sam broke her stare and glared at him. She moved her eyes down to the hand gripping her arm. Instead of fear, she suddenly felt strong, like he couldn’t harm her. Her eyes shifted to his other hand. The one holding a knife. But oddly she didn’t even attempt to jerk out of his grasp. Her heart beat with equal rhythm and her breathing remained level. Then she remembered the light. Focusing again into the forest, Sam began to take strength from it. Beneath her skin, deep within her bones, she felt weightless. Her body could have easily been made of air. If she didn’t already feel the ground under her feet, she would have thought she was floating.
“I think you know what’s about to happen.” Cale laughed darkly. “You may get your wings, but you’ll never ascend.”
Then the light from the forest shined out from within her, illuminating Cale’s dark body in a sea of white. Just when she thought she couldn’t feel any more radiant, she heard a familiar voice. It was a voice she hadn’t heard since childhood—her Aunt Rose. Rose’s voice floated through the air like a beautiful song with the rise and fall of a soothing harmonious pitch. Sam turned her head in all directions, but she didn’t see Rose anywhere. How could she? Her aunt had died in a car accident when she was eighteen, and Sam was only eight.
“Samantha, you were born for the purpose of serving good,” Rose sang. “You are more powerful than he is. Look into your soul, to the light you possess. You were born like me. I will see you soon, my Little Dove.” Sam sighed at the sound of her nickname.
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