Claimed by the Fallen: A Fallen Angel Reverse Harem Novel (The Fallen Harem Book 1)

by Samantha Britt

  “Frankly, Veronica,” The caller’s voice drops low and adopts an unfeeling tone. I realize, belatedly, he’s been aiming to sound appealing during our conversation, “you don’t really have a choice. Meet my master this evening, or your parents die.”

  Twenty-Two

  Its nearly seven o’clock by the time I venture out of my room. I’ve spent enough time praying for my parents to call and tell me the whole situation has been handled—that I don’t need to sneak out of the house and go to the location texted to me by my mom’s phone—but my prayers go unanswered.

  I’d looked up the address online, and the empty warehouse is located on the outskirts of Valley Lake, close to the abandoned quarry. Finally accepting I have no choice but to go along with the kidnapper’s demands, the next step is to figure out how to sneak out of my house without my four angelic bodyguards noticing.

  I walk down the stairs, searching for said bodyguards. My still-developing plan is off to a good start when I only see two angels in the living room. Zeke and Mr. Cohen are my chaperones this evening. I count my blessings, knowing they are the more level-headed brothers. Hopefully, they will be less suspicious of me.

  Neither of the angels react to my appearance. I enter, sit down on the L section of the couch, and join them as they watch the last twenty minutes of a courtroom drama. Peri is snuggled against Mr. Cohen, but she stretches and prowls over to my side, resting her chin on my thigh. I scratch her head, ignoring the curious glances I feel on me from time to time.

  The show ends, and Zeke mutes the television. “Are you hungry?” he asks me.

  Just thinking about food makes my stomach twists uncomfortably. I’m too anxious to eat, but I need the angels to not be suspicious if I have any chance of sneaking out of the house. “I can eat,” I lie.

  Zeke nods and stands from the couch. He goes into the kitchen, and I hear him speaking on the phone.

  “Are you alright?” Mr. Cohen asks. Immediately, I see him grimace. He knows it’s a silly question. My parents are missing, of course I’m not alright.

  “I’m fine,” I say anyway. “Where are the others?”

  Mr. Cohen shifts. “Gabe and Adrian are searching town for any sign of your parents.”

  I nod, pretending like the news gives me hope. That’s hard to do when I know the truth about where my parents are. I imagine Gabe and Adrian pointlessly scouring the town, and I feel a twinge of guilt for not confiding in them. I shove the emotion away. I can’t risk my parents by involving the angels. I just can’t.

  “Why aren’t you and Zeke helping them search?” I bite the inside of my cheek, hoping I can subtly plant the idea the angels in my house should assist their brothers with their task. After all, they’re the ones who assured me of my safety while I’m inside my house. If I can get Mr. Cohen and Zeke to leave me alone, I won’t have to worry about sneaking out to meet the mysterious kidnapper.

  Mr. Cohen meets my gaze. If he senses my emotions, he doesn’t say a word. “None of us wanted to leave you alone, but Zeke and I thought it would be best if the other two made themselves scarce. They aren’t exactly the most… calming presences.”

  Zeke returns. “That might be the understatement of the decade.”

  Mr. Cohen chuckles softly. I nod, half-heartedly acknowledging his remark. I assume Gabe is banished from the house because he can’t keep hold of his temper, especially with regards to the soulmate argument. And chances are Adrian is still irritated with me for what I said at the restaurant about dark Fallen and their impulses. I owe him an apology, but I can’t bring myself to worry about that right now.

  Zeke settles himself on the spot he’d just left. I continue to pet Periwinkle, staring at the floor, while I try to come up with another way to get the angels to leave me alone.

  “Would inviting your friend over help?”

  I blink and look up. “What?”

  Zeke repeats, “Your friend. Annie. Would you feel better if she was here? Maybe she can help distract you?”

  I doubt it, but I’m oddly touched by the thought. During the short weeks of our friendship, I’d shared little details about my life. I’d told Zeke where I went to school, my dog’s name, and, obviously, I mentioned my best friend. But I’m surprised he remembers her name after all this time, especially considering I don’t think I talked about Annie more than once while we waited for my dad to pick me up.

  “No, thanks.” Bringing Annie into this mess is the last thing I want.

  A phone rings, interrupting the conversation. Mr. Cohen reaches into his pocket. “Excuse me.” He steps out the front door. Through the screen, I see him answer the call.

  I watch Mr. Cohen, noting the tension in his shoulders. He tucks his chin down, speaking low. I can’t hear a word.

  “It’s Gabe,” Zeke tells me.

  My neck rotates, and I raise an eyebrow.

  Zeke jerks his head towards the front porch. “Joseph is speaking with Gabe. I figured you were curious.”

  “What is he saying?”

  Zeke’s eyes dim. He looks like he’d rather not tell me, but he says, “That there is still no sign of your parents. They’ve searched all over Valley Lake, including the unpaved roads throughout surrounding valleys.”

  “Oh.” Silence settles between us. I’m wracking my brain for a way to get Zeke out of the house. An idea hits me.

  “Zeke,” I clear my throat, “why did you leave all those years ago?”

  His back straightens, instantly on the defensive. “I’ve told you. I didn’t want to bring anyone to town who might find you.”

  “But you knew I’m Nephilim,” I point out. “Didn’t you expect me to eventually manifest powers? Someone was bound to find me once that happened.”

  “You aren’t a Nephilim,” he corrects me.

  I’m undeterred. “But you thought I was.”

  Zeke’s sudden departure hadn’t been the best way to keep me hidden. If anything, his behavior was negligent. His leaving left me open for anyone else to find me. I was just lucky it’d been Adrian and not someone else who might’ve considered me the abomination most Fallen considered Nephilim to be.

  Zeke doesn’t speak. I can practically see his brain working to find a way to end my line of questioning. His muscles are tense and he’s avoiding meeting my eyes. He’s uncomfortable, and I plan to use it to my advantage.

  Inhaling a deep breath, I prepare myself to steer the conversation to volatile waters. “Zeke… did you know I was your bashert?”

  He is careful to not show any emotion. “No.”

  Liar.

  “Come on, Zeke.” I lean toward him. There is still one seat cushion between us, but I can see the emotion in his eyes more clearly. “You knew I was adopted, and I didn’t have a Fallen father looking out for me. Why else would you leave?”

  I hold my breath and continue to watch him. Indecision swirls in his irises.

  I rock the boat. “Is being your bashert really so bad?” I feel my face heat as I try to adopt a suggestive tone. Again, I admit Annie’s right about my need to practice flirting. I’m horrible at it.

  Zeke rears back like I slapped him. “You don’t know what being an angel’s bashert really means.”

  That was not what I expected him to say. “It means I’m your soulmate.” The words waver slightly, but I do my best to keep my flirtation going.

  Zeke scoffs. “Veronica, this isn’t like the stories. There is no happy ending for me, my brother, or the light Fallen. I left Valley Lake because I didn’t want to be here when your powers emerged. I’d hoped you could escape this life, but Fate seems determined to drag you into this mess.”

  I’d been hoping to make Zeke so uncomfortable he would leave. He hadn’t seemed inclined to discuss the soulmate topic before but hearing him use my full name in such a dejected tone pains me. I bite my lip and look away. I need to not care about Zeke’s feelings. I’m trying to rile him up to leave, and I can’t do that if I’m concerned with causing him discomfort.<
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  “Believe me,” he continues after a short bout of silence, “I do not plan on staying once your parents are safe and the demon nest is emptied.”

  My neck turns so fast I nearly give myself whiplash. “What?”

  He hadn’t said the words meanly, but they feel like a punch to the gut nonetheless.

  Zeke is calm as he says, “Us being around only draws attention to you. You will be safer if we aren’t in your life. I hope the others will agree.”

  I don’t know why, but the thought of never seeing Zeke, or any of the other Fallen angels, robs me of breath. My chest squeezes painfully, rivaling the debilitating feelings from the first day of my transformation. My inner voice screams for me to not let Zeke abandon me. I need him and all of the other Fallen in my life.

  “B-but who is going to help me control my abilities?” I think of Adrian and how he’d once been willing to help me. Something tells me I may have burned that bridge.

  “Once your fully fledged, that won’t take long.”

  Zeke’s so calm—so matter-of-fact. I’m sitting here, feeling like an abandoned puppy, but he is not bothered by his imminent departure from my life.

  Periwinkle huffs and looks up at me with her large, brown eyes. She can sense my unhappiness. I scratch her ears and ask, “How long until I’m ‘f-fully fledged’?” My throat tries to close on the unfamiliar phrase, but I push the words out.

  “It should be tomorrow.”

  “Tomorrow?” Again, my neck whips toward him. “Why tomorrow?”

  “Tomorrow marks one week since you turned eighteen. Angelic youth develop all of their powers in their first week of adulthood.”

  “B-but that doesn’t make sense. Other than the Angel Fire, I haven’t shown any powers.” A fact for which I’m grateful, but the idea my Fallen protectors may leave me to fend for myself is terrifying.

  I know they won’t go until the demons are no longer a threat, but what will happen if someone else finds me? Someone even more dangerous? Are the Fallen really set on leaving me to fend for myself before I have proper training to do so? One week doesn’t seem like enough time to completely adjust to the outrageous changes I’m supposedly going through.

  Stop it.

  I snap out of my panic before it can spiral out of control.

  None of this is important.

  All that matters is saving my parents, and that can only happen if my two chaperones let their guard down.

  Unaware of my inner turmoil, Zeke responds, “All of your powers will be inside you by tomorrow. I suspect most are already coursing through your veins, but unless you wish to release them, they will stay tightly bound under your control.”

  “What? Really?” I think of the demon attack, and how the Angel Fire shot out of my palms without a thought. I mention the incident to Zeke.

  “That first time was unexpected. You had no idea the type of power hidden within. Now that you know the power is there, you can control its manifestation with a simple thought.”

  Could it really be that easy? Deep down, I want to believe him, but I can’t stop the tendrils of doubt from sprouting in my mind.

  “I’d feel better if you guys stuck around.” The irony of my words isn’t lost on me. Wasn’t I just saying how I need them to leave me alone so I can sneak out and save my parents?

  I realize this entire conversation is pointless. Despite what the mysterious caller said, I don’t know if I’m going to make it out of the meeting alive. I don’t need to waste time worrying about a tomorrow which may never come.

  I swallow back my fear, once again, and remind myself I’m doing this for my parents.

  Someone knocks on the patio door’s frame, and I nearly jump out of my skin. I look through the glass and see Mr. Cohen is nowhere in sight. A stranger in a red and black hat stands outside, waiting.

  Collected as ever, Zeke answers the door.

  The stranger says, “One large pepperoni pizza with extra sauce?”

  Zeke nods and reaches into his pocket and pulls out a wad of bills. “That’s us.” He hands the delivery man the cash. “Thanks.”

  I stand and move closer to the door. I read “Louis’ Pizza Joint” on the man’s hat. Louis’ has the best deep-dish pepperoni pizza in Valley Lake, and it is my favorite.

  The pizza box is passed to Zeke. “No problem. Enjoy your dinner.” The delivery guy backs up a step, counting the bills, then dips his head. His eyes meet mine just before Zeke closes the door.

  I move my attention to the fair-haired angel.

  “Dinner is served,” he tells me with a small grin.

  “How did you know I like Louis’?” I think back, but I don’t believe I ever shared the fact with Zeke during our few late-night conversations.

  “Their magnet was on your fridge,” Zeke tells me. “I guessed it was a favorite.”

  “Oh.” That makes sense.

  Zeke jerks his head for me to follow as he walks into the kitchen. He lowers the pizza box on the center island and moves to the cabinet for plates. Retrieving three, he walks back to me and offers me one.

  I take the plate. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. Go ahead and dig in.”

  I lower my plate and reach out with two hands. I pull a wide slice from the pie, careful to take the stringy cheese along with it. My stomach growls, and I realize I’m actually hungry. I credit the deliciousness of Louis’ pizza with my change in hunger.

  I load one more slice onto my plate before I walk to the kitchen table. I plop down in the chair facing the kitchen and watch as Zeke gets three slices for himself. He sits on the chair to my right.

  “Should we wait for Mr. Cohen?” I ask, grabbing two napkins from the holder in the center of the table. I hand one to Zeke.

  “I’m right here,” Mr. Cohen steps through the front door. I’m wondering where he’d disappeared to when he distracts me by saying, “and I thought I asked you to call me Joseph.” There is a teasing lilt to his tone.

  I blush. “Right. Sorry, Joseph.” Using his first name is really going to take some getting used to.

  “Forgiven, Messenger,” he returns with a smile.

  Then, he looks at Zeke. “Thanks for ordering the food.”

  Zeke dips his head. Mr. C—Joseph walks over to the pizza and claims his own slices. He joins us at the table, claiming the seat on my left.

  The three of us eat in silence for a bit. I chew slowly, making sure I don’t sound like a slob as I devour the delicious pizza. The angels converse politely, belying the hatred I learned their kind has for one another. I don’t doubt their neutrality is for my benefit. The angels even try to draw me into conversation—hoping to get my mind off my missing parents.

  Little do they know, my mind is occupied with what I must do tonight. While I wish I could alleviate my guilt and confide in them, I won’t. I sit back, eating in silence, and allow Mr. Cohen and Zeke to attempt to distract me. I smile and nod from time to time, giving them the false sense their efforts are not in vain. When, in reality, that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

  Twenty-Three

  All of the lights in the house were turned off hours ago. I’m lying in bed, still in my athletic clothes from the day, and counting each breath as I stare at the alarm clock by my head. It’s almost midnight, and I’m expected to meet my parent’s kidnappers in thirty minutes. I open the most recent message from my mom’s phone, confirming I remember the time correctly.

  I exhale and try to get control of my nerves. After dinner, the angels and I stayed up watching reruns of a sitcom from the nineties. The guys laughed at the cheesy jokes, and I faked my way through the silly shows; some of the jokes went over my head. Mr. Cohen… I mean, Joseph noticed and teased me about my millennial upbringing, robbing me of knowledge about landlines and dial-up internet.

  In any other situation, I might have enjoyed acting like a normal, non-angelic, teenager with Zeke and Joseph. Both have played roles in my life, and I can’t deny spending tim
e with them feels right—like we are meant to be friends or something. As it is, I won’t be able to enjoy anything until I know my parents are rescued from the demons determined to get to me.

  I watch the digital clock change to 12:01 and know it’s time. I can’t delay any longer. As quiet as I can manage, I slide out of my bed. I’d failed to convince the angels to leave me alone at home, so I’m forced to relying on stealth for my escape.

  I stand in front of my bedroom window, staring at the dim reflection in the glass. I’ve already lifted the blinds, but I hold my breath and pray the window doesn’t stick as I slide it upward. The sealant makes a sound as it breaks free. I freeze, waiting for one of the angels to burst into my room.

  Nothing happens.

  Not wishing to press my luck, I crawl out onto the roof of the back patio which extends from beneath my window. Careful not to look down, I reach out and grab ahold of the tall oak which is less than two feet from the roof. Once I trust my grip on the branch is firm, I swing the rest of my body toward the tree. My legs wrap around the branch. Now, I’m hanging like a sloth.

  My heart pounds against my chest. I don’t move as I let the swaying leaves and branches settle after my leap. Again, I wait for either Zeke or Joseph to arrive and investigate the noise. But it seems God is showing me mercy when, once again, no one reacts to my escape.

  Emboldened by my success so far, I quickly shimmy towards the tree trunk. I set my foot on a lower branch, then proceed to climb down the tree like I did so many times as a child. I hop down from the last branch, falling three feet, and land in a crouch.

  That’s when I hear it: a dog barking.

  I don’t hesitate; I take off running toward the street. I’ve already unlocked the back gate on one of Peri’s potty breaks this evening, so I’m not slowed down. I move, careful to stay in the shadows, until I am four streets away from my house.