“There’s nothing to fear now.”
I stared into the whitened room, watching my reflection on the blinding marble floors.
Jase lay inches in front of me, black feathers scattered all over the white floors as he watched me.
He was shirtless with black jeans… revealing his large, black feathery wings. His bright skin glistened in the white oblivion, revealing his toned abs and his stiff pecs. I watched him lazily as he and I lay inches apart, and I closed my eyes slowly as he stared at me.
The moment I gazed up…
A smile curled his lips; a kind one.
He just shuffled toward me, and I gazed up briefly as he gently wrapped his arms around me.
I buried my face in his neck, closing my eyes.
His black wings drifted over me, shielding me from the light.
They were so soft… like silk and beautiful blankets.
I parted my eyes, staring at his chest when they closed around me protectively.
Jase set his lips against my head, curling his arms around me tightly. “You have nothing to fear now. I’m here now. And you’re here, too… enclosed in my wings. You can dream peacefully.
“I won’t let anyone hurt you. So just close your eyes. I will protect you.
“Forever.”
****
I parted my eyes later that morning, staring lazily into my sun kissed room that warmed from the rays beaming through my open curtains.
After staring into the distance, I managed to recall my dream from earlier.
I won’t let anyone hurt you. So just close your eyes. I will protect you.
The words repeated in my head like a broken record, and after the fifth time, I pushed my arms against the bed so I could sit up.
I pushed the skirt of my dress down before I stepped out and started down the stairs, seeing if Jase was still here.
But the kitchen was empty, and so was the living room… as well as the dining room, and after looking everywhere else, I finally came to the conclusion that he was gone.
Just to make sure, I quietly opened Lizzy’s door and peered into the room.
She was belly-down onto her bed, snoring as a line of drool slipped from her lips.
I closed her door then, staring off into the distance as I tucked some of my hair behind my ear.
Why was Jase so kind last night? Did he mean me harm or good? I didn’t understand.
My thoughts were growing dangerous, confusing, so I just closed my eyes tightly and walked back to my bedroom.
After I picked up my phone, I clicked my recent calls and dialed his number.
He picked up after the second ring. “What’s up?”
“It’s me,” I said.
“I know.”
I pressed further despite the familiar Jase-induced flutter in my stomach. “Where are you?”
“Library,” he stated then, “wanted to check out some cookbooks. Have you ever heard of a Witch Cookbook? It has tons of recipes from popular TV shows.”
I just sighed heavily and stared at my wall. “I have questions.”
Again.
I could feel him smiling through the phone. “For you, Angel, anything.”
I couldn’t tell if he was being sarcastic or not, so I just pressed forward. “Two years ago. There was a murder. A girl named Carmen Diezz. Her body was found in the Clear Creek River. Completely mutilated. They assumed whoever did it was a serial killer, but he hadn’t struck again since. Just kidnappings of other girls that matched her appearance, blonde hair… white skin… that’s it.”
I did some research on Twilight’s secret when I woke up late last night because I couldn’t sleep with this bothering me.
Eventually, I did pass out, though.
“What’s the question?” Jase said.
“Do you know anything about her murder?” I demanded. “The details, who did it, stuff like that.”
“Mmm…” he said then, as if recalling every single bad thing he did, “a lot of murders happen. Every day, at that. That one, specifically, I cannot remember.”
I didn’t believe him. I hardly believed him.
He was hiding something.
“Anything else?” he said then.
“How well acquainted are you with Twilight?” I demanded.
He chuckled low. “I’ve never seen him in my life.”
By his shifted tone, I knew he was telling the truth. The problem was… I didn’t understand his connection to Carmen’s murder if Twilight was the one who committed it.
Was it possible that Jase knew the murder but not who did it? Why was he hiding it from me?
“Do I dare ask if those two questions are connected?” Jase said then.
I was quiet for too long. “No. I was just curious.”
“Being caught up in past crimes isn’t good, Angel,” he stated then, sounding genuinely serious. “You can get obsessed. Nervous. And have anxiety problems.”
“Like you care about that.”
“Fair point, but I’m just trying to help here.”
I shoved all thoughts screaming at me to slap him down. “Why are you being so nice to me?”
“Am I not allowed to?”
“You don’t seem the type.”
“Well, you don’t know me, Sweetheart.”
“Then tell me more about you,” I stated, clutching the phone with my other hand. “Tell me everything.”
He chuckled again, this time, a breathy one. “As I’ve told you before, you are not ready.”
“Try me.”
“Angel,” he said then.
“If you tell me, you’ll have to kill me?” I said then.
“If I tell you, you run,” he stated boldly.
I clutched the phone tighter. “You clearly are stalking me. I’m not running yet.”
“True,” he said then, validating my suspicion. “But… some things are better left in the dark.”
“Try me,” I said again.
“I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to decline.”
I just gritted my teeth, thinning my lips seconds later as his words slid through my veins like fire.
“Why don’t you meet me somewhere?” he said then. “I’m horribly bored.”
“No,” I said immediately.
I wasn’t happy with him. He kept dodging my questions, chasing me, and reading me like an open book when I knew nothing about him. I was done playing his games.
“Scared?” he teased. “Of liking me?”
“No.”
“Liar.”
“I’m not scared,” I snapped then.
“And I’m Jesus.”
I gritted my teeth, anger crawling through my skin like bugs.
“Come on,” he said then, “please, Emma?”
“Fat chance.” I pulled the phone away from my ear and ended the call, glaring at the wall for a couple seconds before I spoke to myself, “I will find out more about you. You can’t hide from me.”
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