"What? The guy was a freaking jerk!"
"You can't just drop a guy like that without consequences. You were going to break his neck because he knocked into you and touched me. This isn't training. That wasn't some Daemon you were fighting there. That was a human. You know, people we're supposed to protect!" Sam said, shaking with shock. "I'm going to go do some damage control. You go to the car," she demanded, stomping away.
All my fury seemed to dissipate in a rush and suddenly I was the one having trouble breathing as I thought about what I had just done. Sam was right. I fought that guy much like I would have a Daemon. I'd let my anger dictate my actions and compromised our family secret by doing so. Despair filled me, and I walked away from the side of the building, but instead of heading toward my car, I headed to the empty field behind the theater. I wanted to get away. I needed to get away.
The farther I walked from the theater, the easier it became for me to be able to breathe. Finally, I stopped in the middle of the open field and looked up at the stars, letting the rest of the adrenaline slowly seep from my body.
"Out for a nighttime stroll, huh?" a voice asked behind me.
"Emrys," I said, not turning around even though my pulse sped up into a high gear.
"Where's your bodyguard?" he asked, stepping up close behind me.
"I'm sure he'll be here soon," I answered, finally turning around and silently begging him with my eyes to keep his promise from earlier.
"You want to get out of here?" he asked huskily.
"Yes, please," I said as I heard Sam yelling my name behind me.
He held out his hand, and without hesitating, I reached out and grasped his hand just as Haniel appeared at my side.
"Jordyn, no!" he said, realizing he was too late.
CHAPTER FIVE
Haniel, Sam, and the weeds around my ankles disappeared instantly and were replaced by a steel platform beneath me. Taking a moment to get my bearings, I turned around slowly, trying to figure out where we were. We seemed to be standing on top of some kind of structure. The breeze was crisp, causing me to shiver slightly, and I could hear the faint sounds of traffic below. I stepped closer to the edge to see if I recognized anything. Looking down, I gasped when I saw the ant-sized vehicles buzzing around from what seemed like miles away. Maybe it was the unexpected shock from realizing how high we were, but my head began to spin, and I swayed uncertainly on the edge of the metal platform.
"Whoa, careful, Wonder Woman," Emrys said, gripping my hand and pulling me backward. "I'm pretty sure your superpowers don't include flying, right?" he added.
"Where are we?" I asked, sitting down to ease some of my dizziness.
"On the top of the Empire State Building," he said, sitting next to me.
"Seriously?" I shivered again, but more from his close proximity than the actual chill in the air.
"Cold?" he asked.
"A little," I said, not wanting him to know my shivers were because of him.
"Here," he said, shrugging out of his trademark leather coat.
"Won't you be cold?" I asked as I slid my arms into the cool sleeves of the jacket. It was weird that no heat remained from his body. It felt more like the jacket had been hanging in a closet. Regardless, it did the trick and immediately started to warm me.
"How soon before my warden shows up?" I asked, trying not to think about how good it felt to be wrapped up in his jacket.
He laughed long and hard before answering. "Longer than you'd think."
"What do you mean?" I asked, wondering what I was missing.
"Just put it this way: Haniel will have a hard time finding us with the shield I've employed."
"I hate to break it to you, Trader, but he's kind of got a direct line with The Light. He can find anyone."
"The Light is only helpful when he chooses to be. You'd be surprised how often your little protector spends cooling his heels waiting for his boss to give him the time of day."
I mulled over his words, knowing he had a point. Haniel himself had mentioned on more than one occasion that he needed to seek an audience with The Light.
"So, this is your favorite place?" I asked, changing the subject. The view from the metal catwalk where we were perched was truly spectacular.
"Well, not the actual catwalk, but the location. Here, scoot closer to the edge," he said, tugging on my legs until they dangled off the edge like his. My heart raced as I peered down. I had never been up so high, and I couldn't decide if I was frightened or exhilarated. The headlights on the cars below looked like they belonged on some elaborate kid toy as they buzzed around. It's amazing how peaceful it all looked from this height. In a way, I kind of envied their lives. They woke up, went to work, went back home, slept, and started the whole process over again the next day. I'm sure a lot of them thought it was monotonous and boring, but to me, it had a comforting normalcy to it. Angels were something they heard about in church each Sunday, not a part of their everyday lives. I wondered how different my life would be if my aunt and uncle didn't have a direct line to heaven.
"Penny for your thoughts," Emrys said, holding out an aged copper penny.
"Does that corny line still work? Besides, I'm not sure they're even worth that," I said, reaching out to take the penny anyway. I cradled it in my hand, studying the date. "Nineteen fifty-two?" I inquired.
"Good year," he said, leaning back on his hands.
"I know, right? Poodle skirts, sock hops, milkshakes, and Mom's meatloaf," I retorted.
He shot me a crooked smile before answering. "You sure are sarcastic for an angel."
"Never said I was an angel," I snipped back.
"Don't fool yourself, sweets, you're more angel than I am."
"That's not saying much," I said. "You're like some grim reaper?"
"Ouch," he answered, clutching where his heart would have been. "How dare you call me a grim reaper. I prefer 'soul man,'" he taunted, wagging his eyebrows at me.
"Oh brother," I said, pointing into my mouth to gag myself. I took a swat at his arm, but he captured my hand in his.
My breath hitched in my throat, and my sarcastic attitude disintegrated in the thin air. Hand holding was a new experience for me. I tried to act indifferent as I leaned over, studying the endless lights below us. The temperature of Emrys's hand was much like the jacket. I'm not sure why I had assumed it would be hot to the touch. Or maybe I did know why and just didn't want to admit it. My train of thought crashed and burned when he started tracing patterns on the back of my hand. I had to work hard to maintain a slow and steady breath.
"So, the tat, what does it mean?" I asked, trying to ignore the nagging voice that was taunting me over why he'd brought me here in the first place.
His finger stalled. "Nothing really. It's just something from my human days," he finally answered after several minutes had passed. I was beginning to think I had entered into some "no visitors allowed" part of his mind. I fidgeted uncomfortably, fighting the sudden urge to snatch my hand away.
"You remember being human?" I asked, trying to break the awkward silence.
"Vividly," he said, laughing harshly.
"Was it that bad?" I pressed on, ignoring the "do not enter" sign he all but had hanging around his neck.
"Bad? No. For the most part, it was good. It didn't get bad until the end," he said, making it clear the subject was closed.
The sting of his rejection made me recoil. "Fine," I snapped, yanking my hand from his. "You can take me home now," I added, rising.
"Hey, don't get all twisted, babe. I just find talking about you to be more enlightening," he said, tugging me back down.
"Are you just fucking with me?" I asked, going for the shock factor to cover my confusion over his intense interest in me.
"Sweetheart, you'd definitely know if I was doing that," he drawled.
"What do you want from me then?" I asked, ignoring his innuendo.
"What makes you so sure I want something?" he asked as he resumed drawing the intricate pattern on my hand.
This time it was my turn to laugh harshly. "Let me tell you something. This whole mysterious cool act you're going for is starting to teeter awfully close to the creeper line. Besides, everyone wants something from me. I'm not a freaking idiot, so spill it. You got me here where you wanted me—all alone," I said, indicating our isolated location.
"Does there have to be a reason? You intrigued me. From the moment I saw you kick the living shit out of those Daemons I knew I wanted to get to know you better."
"Really? And you decided that from knowing me all of ten minutes?" I asked, pulling my hand from his. "You can cut the bullshit."
"Jordyn, you intrigue me, that's all," he said again.
"Intrigue how? Like some science experiment gone wrong that you can't help looking at with morbid fascination?"
He laughed. "Boy, talk about some serious paranoia."
"Why? Because I'm not falling for your horseshit? Haniel says you're dangerous and he hasn't lied to me yet."
"You don't think I'm dangerous," he said matter-of-factly.
"Oh, so you can read minds, too?" I asked sarcastically.
"Hey, peace, baby, peace. I'm not looking for a rumble," he said, holding his hands up. "Is this okay?" he asked, grinning devilishly as he slung his arm over my shoulder.
"Damn right you're not," I muttered, leaning back into his embrace.
He mumbled something in protest, but I didn't quite catch it. I was tempted to ask him to repeat it, but I figured I'd dealt with my fair share of drama tonight. Shit was going to hit the roof when I got home anyway, so this brief interlude could be the only break I'd have. Emrys seemed to sense my mood and lapsed into silence. I wasn't sure how long we sat there. Time seemed to bend back on itself as all the vehicles and lights below entranced me. I could have stayed there all night. It was easy to see why this was his favorite spot. Only when my butt became numb did I finally acknowledge the passing time.
"I should go home," I said, sighing resignedly.
"You don't have to," he enticed.
"I need to face the music. I'm sure Haniel, not to mention my aunt and uncle, are going apeshit by now."
"See, that's my point. If you're in trouble anyway, why rush home?"
"You really are evil," I said, elbowing him in his ribs as I stood up.
"Do you believe that?" he asked, standing also. His teasing was now gone as he studied me intently.
"Does it matter?" I asked.
"To me it does," he said quietly before grasping my hand in his.
The catwalk disappeared beneath our feet and was replaced by the beach. Emrys let go of my hand as soon as my feet sank into the sand. Opening my eyes, I saw I was alone with the waves that crashed against the bluff near my house.
"Emrys?" I said, spinning around, searching for the Trader who had been with me just moments before. "Damn, no reason to go away mad," I said to the empty beach. "You forgot your jacket," I added, hoping to entice him back out.
I waited several more moments to see if he'd return, but finally gave up when I realized he wasn't coming back, at least right now. Trudging through the sand, I headed toward my house with trepidation. This wasn't going to be pretty.
I stepped through the patio doors to an overflowing family room. Seven pairs of eyes pivoted around at my entrance, all staring in dead silence.Shit, nothing like calling in the cavalry, I couldn't help thinking bitterly as my eyes scanned the room.
Any further thoughts were pushed aside as a small dark-haired torpedo hit me at top speed, nearly knocking me over. "Lynn?" I said, shocked to see her as she wrapped her arms around me.
"Jordyn, don't ever do that to me again," Lynn admonished, holding me at arm's length.
Her scolding raised my hackles. "You came all this way because I went on a date?" I asked, putting on an act like my actions were no big deal.
"I thought we saidnobeing alone with the Soul Trader!" Krista said in a raised voice, taking in the leather jacket I was wearing.
I shrugged my shoulders, trying to hide my surprise over Krista's anger. She was usually so even tempered.
"Seriously? I'll be eighteen in two months, guys. When are you going to realize I'm practically an adult?"
"When you don't act like a toddler by going off with a stranger," Mark said in an even tone that was more effective than Krista's shouting.
"Oh god, it was no big deal. We just hung out," I said defensively, sinking down on the couch as all of them eyed me like some alien species.
"Jordyn, you don't justhang outwith Soul Traders. They always have a secret agenda," Krista said, sitting next to me.
"Secret agenda? Come on, you've already told me they're here to collect souls. Obviously, mine is safe, right?" I asked. "Besides, Emrys is different," I said stubbornly.
"If by different, you mean cunning, you're dead on," Sam grumbled across the room. "I watched how he manipulated you, snatching you right in front of Haniel like that."
"He didn't snatch me," I argued. "Haniel can tell you that," I said, looking at him for confirmation.
"Correct. He did not snatch you. You went willingly," Haniel answered, not moving a muscle as he studied me intently.
Haniel's judgmental stare was piercing. I drug my eyes from his and studied the floor instead, debating whether I should answer him. How could I sum up how Emrys made me feel to a bunch of angels? They didn't want to hear it. When I was with him, I felt daring, rebellious, and more importantly, free. I felt alive. My every movement over the last year had been scrutinized by the individuals in this room. At times I felt like nothing more than a lab rat to them. For just the briefest of moments tonight, Emrys helped me forget my status as an Anomaly.
"Jordyn?" Lynn asked, sounding confused. She was used to the more vocal version of me. I didn't shy away from situations. I embraced them.
Not sure how to answer, I finally shrugged again. "I don't know," I finally mumbled.
"He is obviously mind bending you," Robert said trying to pacify the situation.
"Mind bend?"
"You know, compelling you to go with him. Mind bend means the same thing. Your mind is bent so it no longer belongs to you."
