by L. A. Boruff
The girl though...
He licked his lips. She had potential. She was the right amount of naive and smart. If anyone could see what he was trying to prove and appreciate it, it was her. He knew it. He stripped off his sweatshirt as he crossed the room to his closet and opened the door.
There, four of the scrolls lay. Their seals were broken, their words covered by the blood of lambs. So far, nothing had happened. He'd meant to open all of them by now, however, a freak storm had rolled through, shutting down some of the shops near the college, including the damn butcher. It was okay though. He had all the time in the world and thankfully since he didn't have any classes until late, he'd already prepared for breaking the next seal. Inside the cooler, he kept in his closet, sat the fresh bag of sheep's blood.
He glanced at the newspaper next to the alter he’d built and smirked. The museum reported the theft. There were no prints or footage of the person who took the scrolls. The police and the museum staff were sure it was an inside job. Who else could have been inside the small museum after hours? He laughed. Fools.
Their monetary value of the scrolls couldn't be calculated. They were thousands of years old, and because of their historical value, ensuring they had been improbable. How did an insurance company write a policy for something that couldn't be replaced? He laughed. They couldn't. He'd meant to cut the article out of newspaper and frame it. His first grand larceny. When he was done, he'd go public. He'd show everyone the scrolls. He'd show them.
Since the first four scrolls were the four horsemen of the apocalypse, the fifth was for the martyrs. Though it didn't make any sense to him, he'd break it. Those who waited for judgment and those who were judged, blah, blah, blah... If the dead began to rise, well, there were shifters and vampires in the world, why would the raising of the dead be weird?
He laughed.
Yeah, sure, the dead rising. He shook his head as he grabbed his stuff to take a shower. The deeper he got into Revelations, the more convinced he became the bible was full of shit and the men who wrote it had no shame. It was like one giant supernatural journey from beginning to end.
He glanced back at the altar and snickered. Four down, three more to go. Before the week was over with, he’d have proved his point. It will be glorious. It will be amazing. Humanity won’t know what hit them.
Chapter Three
Paul sent Nova a text during her art history class reminding her of their date. She grinned. How could she forget? In the short time, she'd known him, she'd come to like Paul, even if his friends were a little eccentric. And hot, don’t forget. No, hot didn’t even cover it. Seeing all three of them together was like looking at a group of models straight off a GQ cover.
Yesterday, Michael braided his hair. The long dark locks hung down his back, drawing her attention to his rear. Unlike in their biblical class a few days ago, his jeans were tighter, giving her a glimpse of his butt. Not only had he been the shortest of the three, but he was also compact and stout. Nova nibbled on the corner of her lip. Just thinking about him made her all hot and bothered.
Ryan... As much as she enjoyed looking at him, something about him made her shiver in dread. Like a piece of her soul withered away every time he appeared. Crazy as it might sound, she wondered if perhaps the guys were something other than human. She was, after all, attending a college filled different types of shifters, demons, and vampires and others.
So, it begged the question, why didn’t she ask them? What would it hurt to be forthright and ask? She sensed it of course, just like she sensed the shadow demons near Williams Tower the night of their Biblical Study’s class. Maybe if she knew the truth, she wouldn’t feel like she was coming out of her skin around them or even squelch the sense of impending doom whenever Ryan was around.
Nova exited the class once the professor excused them. She had a paper to write for her English and one more for Philosophy. Thankfully, neither were due until next week when they met again for class. As she stepped out the door, two of her fellow classmates, stopped her. She liked them okay. They were a bit odd, for her taste. One was always smiling and laughing. The other had a weird sense of style and acted like she’d been trying to hide. From what or who, Nova didn’t pry. Wasn’t like they were best friends or anything. She thought their names were Joy and Shelly, but again, she couldn’t remember.
The girl with red hair and big glasses stepped forward when her friend nudged her. She cleared her throat then pushed the too big of glass perched precariously on her nose, back into place. “Nova, Joy and I wanted to know if you’d like to grab an early dinner with us?”
“Uh... Well...” Nova hitched her bag up onto her shoulder. “I kind of have plans later.”
“Oh,” the girl said.
“Where are you going?” Nova hedged.
“University Burger,” Joy answered. “We kind of head there every Thursday night. Kind of a blow off steam type deal. You should join Shelly and me.”
Shelly gave her a shy grin. “We’re trying to pick up guys.”
“More specifically, she’s trying to catch one.” Joy hitched her thumb at Shelly.
“Who’s the lucky guy?” Nova arched a brow. “Someone, I know?”
Shelly started to walk away, leaving Nova and Joy to catch up to her. “He’s no one, really. Probably doesn’t know I exist.”
Not surprising. Nova held her comments in check. If the girl wanted the guy or girl, she’d have to put herself out there and stop hiding. “Well, we should change that. I’ll help.”
Shelly stared at her. “You mean it?”
Nova grinned. “Sure. I’ll join you. I’m supposed to meet my friends later and University Burger just happens to be the place.”
“Perfect.” Joy tugged Nova forward, positioning her between the two girls. “Let’s go before there’s a crowd.”
Shelly pushed open the door of their building and stepped out into the late afternoon sun. “So, how do you like it here at TSU?” The quickest way to the burger joint was the through the quad. University Burger was on the other side of the campus—a quick walk from the main buildings.
“It’s nice,” Nova replied. “Nothing like home.”
“Where’s home?” Joy glanced over at her.
“Uh...” It wasn’t that she thought either of the girls she stood between would tell her father where she went, she didn’t feel comfortable telling anyone. “East coast.”
“She doesn’t want to tell us,” Shelly whispered.
“I don’t blame her,” Joy muttered. “People like to gossip around here.”
Nova cleared her throat. She was standing right there. “Family drama.”
“Same,” Shelly said. “Say no more, I understand.”
It didn’t take long before they were standing in front of the industrial looking building with curved wrought-iron awnings. The sign for University Burger had been done in giant neon tubing that blinked a different color every forty-five or so seconds. From where Nova stood, she could see the bar inside along with three monitors anchored above the shelves of alcohol. Students and adults sat at the polished teak counter while watching different types of sports. One had college football. Another had baseball and one more had soccer. An interesting combo for sure.
“Come on, the dinner crowd will be trampling us any minute,” Joy teased.
The raucous noise pushed Nova back a step. Since she’d been away from her father’s compound, she experienced more than she ever thought she would. This was another one of those times. Joy led them through a winding maze of people until she stopped in front of a table marked reserved. She motioned for both Nova and Shelly to sit before taking her seat as well.
“One of the perks of being friends with the Alpha,” Shelly said. “We get our own table and” —she pointed to the waitress approaching— “our own wait staff.”
“Hey guys,” the girl said, pulling her pad from her red and black apron. “Long time no see.”
“Emory, this is our new friend No
va,” Joy said. “We have Philosophy together.”
The girl gave Nova a megawatt smile. “Welcome to TSU.”
“Thanks. I really like it here. It feels like—”
“Home,” Shelly said.
“Yeah. Weird right?” Nova wrinkled her nose.
“Not even in the slightest,” Emory said. “These mountains have something potent in them. It brings people together.”
Nova found herself nodding with Emory’s statement. “It does. Weather is kind of unusual, right?”
The girls frowned. “Nothing. I mean nothing like that has ever happened before. We’re all still a little perplexed.”
“Happens where I'm from, but I agree...” She paused staring at the women surrounding her. “Hey, if I tell you something, do you think you can keep it to yourself?”
“Sure,” Joy said. “Mums the word on anything we share.”
Nova swallowed hard. “I thought I saw fire in the sky, you know, during the storm.”
“You too?” Emory sat down beside them. “I thought I was the only one.”
Nova shook her head. “I have seen some freaky things during storms, this...it shook me.”
“We missed it,” Shelly said.
“Trust me,” Nova stated. “You didn't want to see it.”
Emory nodded. “So, what can I get all of you?”
After they put in their order, Nova took a minute to explore her surroundings. The diner had a retro-fifties look but also this modern masculine edge. It shouldn't have gone together, but somehow it did. The functionality of two distinct portions flowed together seamlessly. The monitors in their area played different music videos or old movies. It was cheesy but fun.
“So, who are these friends you're meeting?” Joy hedged.
“Uh...well, Paul, that's one of their names, he saved my life during the storm. He's really nice in a bad boy kind of a way. Then there is Michael, he's—”
“Wait, it’s two guys?” Joy's eyes widened. “That's hot. Isn't it, Shelly?”
The girl gave a curt nod.
“He's... Different. They’re different. Michael wears all black and has this leather collar that has a chain attached to it. The other day, he put the chain in my hand and this sense of peace came over him.”
Joy propped her chin on the palm of her hand. “Whoa...”
“He excruciatingly good looking too. He has long black hair.” Nova sighed. “I want to run my fingers through it because it looks so soft.”
“Any more?” Joy prodded.
She nodded. “Ryan. Of all three, he's the preppy one. He wears three-piece suits. His hair is always slicked back and oh! They all have tattoos. From what I could see, their necks and arms are covered. I don't know about their chests and backs though.”
“Bad boys,” Shelly whispered.
“Yes. I have a sneaky suspicion they're very bad.” Nova giggled. “Anyway, they've been in a couple of my classes. Hey... Do you know a professor by the last name of King, by chance?”
Joy and Shelly shook their heads. “Why?”
“He reminds me of Ryan only, bigger. More powerful.”
“Must be other,” Joy said. “Most of the staff here with the exception of a few faculty are shifters or other.”
“Makes sense,” Nova replied.
They tucked into their dinners when Emory brought them out to their table. She'd also noticed other things going on. She hadn't wanted to voice them because it'd been too weird. After telling Paul about the shadow demons, she also saw ghosts. She realized if there were other paranormal beings in society, it would make sense if ghosts were a real thing too, but these were different. They had a green undead tinge to them. Unlike the shadow demons, they were haloed in this charged air. It didn't make sense to Nova and if she couldn't explain it properly, she also didn't want to sound like a raving lunatic either. Nevertheless, she couldn't shake the idea of something being very wrong. Like with the fire arcing across the sky, these ghosts weren't natural.
“You're quiet while you eat,” Joy said. “Why?”
“Thinking,” Nova said, popping a fry in her mouth. “Can I ask you a question?”
“You just did,” Shelly muttered.
Nova laughed. “So I did.”
“What's on your mind.” Joy took a sip of her cherry cola.
“Are ghosts’ part of the paranormal/other realm?” Nova couldn't believe she blurted the question out quite as she had, but it was out there now. No taking it back.
“Yes,” Joy said. “They're not very common though. Why?”
“What do they look like?”
“They shimmer,” Shelly answered. “They look like you or me, only they have this silvery dust surrounding them. You wouldn't know they were dead until the sun hit them directly. Most though from what I understand, come out at night. Why?”
She frowned. “It’s probably nothing. I feel silly bringing it up, honestly. I-it's all different than where I'm from. There aren't a lot of shifters or others or whatever. So, being in a concentrated area, I feel like I am getting a crash course in all things paranormal.”
Joy gave a soft laugh. “It can be overwhelming. Should we tell you what Shelly and I are?”
She suspected the girls were different. “Sure. You've got me all kind of curious.”
“I'll go first,” Joy said. “I am a water sprite.”
Nova blinked. “Wait, I don't think I heard you.”
She laughed. “You did. I am a water sprite.”
“So, you're like a fae being, right?”
Joy tipped her hand back and forth. “Kind of. My family is in the same realm as all elementals and fae. We're faeries. Our cousins are brownies and pixies.”
“Your turn Shelly,” Joy said. “She's very uncomfortable with telling people.”
“I won't tell anyone,” Nova said. “I promise.”
Shelly blew out a breath while pulling off the giant glasses she'd been so fond of. Instantly her looks transformed. Sure, her clothes were still a bit tight and out of place, but her face glowed. Her eyes took on this luminescence. Flecks of grey and blue bounced together creating a kaleidoscope of colors within their depths. “I'm a unicorn.”
“No, shit,” Nova said, a little breathier than she intended. “You exist, wow.”
“She's the last of her kind,” Joy said, sadness filled her tone.
“Oh...” Nova placed her hand over Shelly's. “I'm so sorry. Here I am gushing over meeting you and you're alone.” Her heart clenched.
“She's not though,” Joy interjected. “She has us. Shelly will never be alone.”
It wasn't the same. Nova, for all the crap her father pulled, could go home and maybe get her father to understand why she did what she did. She'd have a family—blood there. Shelly didn't have blood anymore. She was the last of her kind and if she died, unicorns would go extinct. “You're right.” She gave a tight smile. “You do, Shelly.”
The girl nodded before putting those gaudy glasses back on. “I am. Our Co-Ed Greek house has accepted me, and I feel like I finally have a family. It's nice.”
“Wait, there's a Co-Ed Greek House here?” She'd heard rumblings of such a thing but had yet to meet anyone who'd been in it or was still there.
Joy grinned. “Yeah. We're members. Bell Dryer, Hayden Raferty and Victor Lorenz started it a couple of years ago. Bell's father helped rebuild the house last year. If you ever want a tour you should def come by. I know Bell would love to meet you.”
“Thanks,” Nova said. “I just might.”
Soft mutterings drew her attention from the two girls sitting with her, to the door adjacent from where they were located. She caught a glimpse of white-blond hair then the flick of black leather. Her heart hammered. Her fingers itched. In an instant, she went on alert and it was all because of the guys. When Paul's gaze landed on Nova's, her heart lodged in her throat. She couldn't look away from him. The corner of his mouth kicked up as he drew near the table.
“Well, hello,�
�� he said, stopping in front of the table. Ryan and Michael along with three other men she didn't know joined them moments later.
“Joy, Shelly,” Nova murmured, licking her lips. “This is Paul, Ryan, and Michael.”
“Sorry, star, I forgot to tell you there would be a couple of friends joining us tonight. This is Matthew, Adam, and Chris.”
Nova gave them a finger wave. “Nice to meet you.” She peered over at Joy who openly ogled the guys. “How much do I owe you for dinner?”
Joy waved her off. “Our treat. I'm glad we could get to know each other. Have fun.”
“Thanks.” Nova stood and exited the booth. “You know, I think I might check out your house tomorrow if you're available.”
A brilliant smile spread across Joy's face. “Deal. I'll—we’ll see you tomorrow. We can't wait.”
With a final wave, she followed Paul to a darker corner of the establishment. He didn't appear bothered by her eating with friends. A zap of electricity flowed through her when he grasped her hand. Warmth chased away the nervous energy flowing through her. A million questions rolled through her mind, including if she should read into him holding her hand or not. Mostly she'd been curious about the other men with Paul. She hadn't seen them around campus.
When they sat, Paul motioned for one of the servers to join them. He gave his order then glanced at Nova. She waved him off. As it was, she still had her shake from dinner, plus she was full. When they were alone, she glanced around the table. The three guys who joined them were equally unique, but also carried the same air of authority as Paul and Ryan. It intrigued her.
“So,” she said, breaking the ice. “How did you all meet?”
The guy in the center with the short brown mohawk, Matthew she thought she heard Ryan call him, leaned forward, turning the toothpick in his mouth with his tongue. “We're all old friends.” His gravelly voice skirted down her spine and settled low within her belly. “When Paul said he was here,” he shrugged. “We joined him.”
