The Awakener

by Amanda Strong

  “Good morning, beautiful. How did you sleep?” Andrew asked, coming through the door. He didn’t let her answer, because he had her in his arms and was kissing her lips.

  “Good. How about you?” She pulled her face back.

  He studied her. “Not that great actually. I was worried about you. How do you feel?”

  Want the truth?

  “I’m fine, really. Don’t worry.”

  Andrew peered around. “Where’s everybody?”

  “They’re over at the house. My dad’s finishing installing the new carpet and my mom and Brendon are cleaning.”

  Andrew glanced at her. “Surprised they didn’t make you go.”

  The moment of truth—did she tell him about Micah’s visit?

  “I slept in, but I think my mom wants me over there too,” she said, hating herself. It wasn’t a lie really, but she still felt guilty. “Andrew, can we talk about last night?” she asked, before she lost her nerve.

  He gazed at her and then nodded. “I think we should.”

  She sat down, Andrew sitting next to her. She faced him, rubbing her hands together; they felt cold.

  “What I’m going to tell you is going to sound crazy, but you need to hear me out, okay? But first I should probably to tell you what happened in February.”

  She relayed to him the night in her bedroom when Gabriel had killed the demon, leaving out how she now talked to Gabriel every day. Afraid to hear what he would say, she plunged into last night’s events. Getting to the part where Sage appeared, she realized she’d omitted telling him about seeing her the first time at Micah’s. But Andrew seemed engrossed in her story and didn’t ask questions.

  She explained how Sage caused the fire in the forest to burn all the demons. “And that’s where I don’t know the rest of the story. I remember being in Gabriel’s arms, and then I woke up to you and Caitlyn.”

  She finally peeked at him, scared to see his reaction, but he was staring at his hands. She bit her lip, waiting for a response.

  Finally, he met her eyes. “When I found you, you were practically dead.” He placed her hands in his. “Your arm looked like an animal bit through it.” He rotated her wrist. “Now it makes sense,” he said, more to himself.

  Relieved he believed her, she exhaled the breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. “But if you found me, how did I—?” She stopped, eyes widening.

  Andrew didn’t say anything as he stood, pulling her to her feet. He began lifting her t-shirt up. Still lost on the fact that Andrew was the one to save her, she didn’t resist.

  As her shirt started to reach her bra, she pushed down on his hands, “Andrew, wait.”

  But he had stopped and was examining her back. He placed his hand over the few remaining scrapes, and a warm sensation spread over her skin. Removing his hand, he guided hers to feel her back.

  She gasped. The large scab was gone, leaving her skin smooth. “It was you,” she gasped, staring into his emerald eyes.

  “I’ve wanted to tell you for so long, but I was afraid you’d think I was some kind of freak.”

  Her eyes welled with tears. “You saved my life. What you do is beautiful.” Overcome with feelings of gratitude, she pressed her mouth on his.

  He returned the kiss, his hands holding her firmly against him. They had kissed before but it had never felt like this. Her head was spinning and she pulled back. He didn’t seem to mind as he held her close.

  “I love you,” he whispered.

  The words caused an electric shock to shoot through her. He loves me?

  She searched her heart, desperate to know if she could say it back.

  She needed more time, to sort through her feelings, but she didn’t have time. Andrew had laid his heart open bare before her.

  “I love you too,” she replied automatically. Her heart confirmed it wasn’t un-true.

  A new thought occurred to her, and she pulled back from his arms to face him.

  “It was you, wasn’t it?”

  He stared at her.

  “In the theater, why I can see…”

  He grinned. “Sorry, I was still learning, didn’t have much control over it then.”

  “My parents took me to the eye doctor like three times! They didn’t believe I could suddenly see perfect! I should’ve known.” She playfully swatted his shoulder.

  He secured her hand and pulled her close. “You’re welcome.”