“Awe, come on Emma. Don’t be like that,” Malachi said, reaching over, grasping my shoulder.
“What was that thing?” I questioned, looking deep into his eyes. He didn’t respond and looked at the driver, who also kept silent and his eyes on the road. “It was going to kill me, and called me a Neph-a-something. What does that mean?”
“Nephilim?” Dominic corrected.
“Yes! That’s what it called me! What the hell does that mean?”
I saw Dominic shoot a glance into the rearview mirror at Malachi.
“I- I’m sorry, Emma. But Alaine -” Malachi stuttered.
“Yeah, yeah…I know…Alaine will tell me. But why can’t anyone tell me what the hell is going on? I’ve been living in the dark for the past two days! Things have been happening to me that I can’t explain! Things are appearing out of nowhere, trying to kill me, and I know you guys have the answers!” I was beyond frustrated, and started to hyperventilate.
“I think you need to calm yourself down a bit, Emma,” Malachi said, holding his hands up.
“Calm down? How do you expect me to calm down? I was almost killed by a freakin’ demon creature, and all I want are some answers!” I bellowed at the top of my lungs.
“I’m sorry to have to do this to you,” he said in a calm voice, placing his hand on my forehead speaking one word. “Sleep.”
I suddenly felt numb and a sense of déjà vu.
“What did you do to me?” I gasped. My world was quickly fading, and I realized that Kade had done the exact same thing to me on the plane.
Now, that was crossing a personal line, and totally NOT cool!
Heaviness crept over my eyes until I couldn’t keep them open any longer.
Chapter 6:
“Emma. Wake up. We’re almost there,” a familiar voice called through the darkness, gently nudging my arm. Tingles and warmth rushed over me like a warm blanket; a familiar feeling I’d grown accustomed to whenever Kade was near. I slowly peeled my lids open and tried to focus in the darkness.
I was still sitting in the front seat of the Hummer, and we were on a bumpy road. Thick growths of spruce trees lined each side, towering up towards the darkened sky. Kade popped forward from the back seat.
“Hey,” he grinned.
“How did you-?” I paused and pointed at him, utterly bewildered by his presence.
He wiggled his eyebrows and quickly slunk back into his seat.
Was I dreaming this whole time, or was there actually a demon thing that tried to kill me in the bathroom at the airport? I twisted and felt a dull pain in my ribs. The pain was real, so the rest of it had to be. But how did he get here? We left him behind. Maybe they turned around and picked him up while I was asleep.
Wait a minute! I felt a fire start to burn deep inside when I remembered what Malachi had done.
“Okay, what the hell did you do to me?” I huffed, glancing over to Malachi.
“What do you mean?” he said with a look of innocence on his face.
“You know what I mean, and you did it too!” I said, shooting a skeptical look over to Kade. “When you both touched my head and said the word “sleep”… in seconds I was gone…out cold… no dreams, nothing…until you woke me up. What is that? What did you do to me?”
“We don’t know what you’re talking about Emma. That’s pure craziness. You were just overly tired and must have overdosed on your pain pills,” Malachi said incredulously, rolling his eyes. “Actually, I think you were in shock and passed out.”
“Well… what about that thing that almost killed me in the bathroom? What was that? It looked like a vampire. Was it…a vampire?”
All three of them burst into laughter.
“There are no such things as vampires, sweetheart,” Dominic snickered.
“Then what was it?” I pressed angrily.
They all kept silent. I was livid that they wouldn’t respond, so I flipped to face the front, folding my arms over my chest. It was no sense in talking or trying to reason with them. They were all keeping some stupid code-of-silence.
“Kade, your ass is going to be in some deep shit for that bathroom scene,” Malachi muttered.
“Whatever man,” Kade replied.
Dominic laughed, and I shook my head, heated with fury.
The next five minutes of bumpy road and silence were hellish.
“We’re here,” Kade announced with a sigh of relief.
I bet he and Malachi were thrilled that I’d soon be delivered in one piece, and finally out of their hands. I noticed a glowing light above the tree-line ahead. As soon as we rounded a bend, a humongous castle-like mansion towered in the middle of beautifully landscaped property. It looked like it belonged somewhere on the English hillsides, rather than in the middle of Nowheresville, Alaska.
The mansion looked like it had two sections. The main section was huge, towering three stories high. To the right of the house was a tower made of stone that went up four stories high. A large metal gate wrapped around the expanse of the property. Flood lights and little black boxes were atop every post. It looked more like a high-society prison yard. I wondered if the fence had electricity running through it, and I wouldn’t doubt it if it did.
We drove down a cobbled path which came to a round-about. The center was filled with flowers and a large stone fountain. Dominic pulled up to the front of the house where an older, white-haired gentleman in a black suit and bowtie stood, waiting to greet us.
“Good evening, Emma,” he said with a wide smile as he opened my door. Wow. He had an English accent. That was pretty awesome.
“Good evening,” I replied, with a smile. The cold Alaskan air bit my cheeks, and cut straight through my clothes as I exited the door. Holy heck! It was freezing!
“My name is Henry. It’s so nice to finally meet you,” he said, offering me his arm.
Finally meet me? That was odd. I’d only known I’d been coming here since yesterday.
Henry led me up the steps to the front door which was massive and towering. It looked like it had come straight from a castle, with two angels carved delicately into the wood, adorning each side. The large doors swung open into a grand hallway. On each side of the hall stood golden pedestals with crystal vases nestled on top, filled with dozens of red roses. A beautiful crystal chandelier greeted us with a warm glow from above. The floors were earth-toned slate, and the walls were painted in a golden-brown color. Everything looked luxurious. My mother would have died if she saw this place. It looked like a palace.
We walked through the hallway into a large open room which had floors made of white marble. In the center was a mural made of tiny multicolored tiles of the sky, and an angel with outspread wings, bearing a sword. A white marbled stairway with a golden banister led upstairs to the second and third floors.
Who the heck was Aunt Alaine? Miss Reed, the social worker, said her husband died and left her with an inheritance. But who was he…the sultan? I mean - dang! This was something I wasn’t expecting. At best, I thought an extra-large, three story house, moose head hanging on a wall, bear skins on the floor… you know, typical things you’d think an Alaskan would have in their home.
Kade and Malachi entered the room chattering quietly amongst themselves.
“Wait here Emma, I will alert Miss Gray of your arrival,” Henry said disappearing into a hallway tucked just before the staircase.
“Isn’t this place awesome,” Kade whispered into my ear. He was so close that it made my body tingle. I wanted to be mad at him, but my brain had become fogged and I’d suddenly forgotten why.
“Yeah, it’s great,” I answered.
I looked up and saw another chandelier, which dwarfed the one in the hall. It was massive, golden, and covered with hundreds of tear-drop crystals. It hung from a large round skylight made of stained-glass, which pictured a large, red rose in full bloom. From entering the house, I already gathered that my aunt liked red roses and was obsessed with angels.
“You’ll like it here,”
Kade assured me again, brushing up against me. His breath was warm against my cheek, sending surges through my veins. Was he trying to use his charming and luring abilities to try and make me feel better? Well…it was working.
“I hope so,” I exhaled.
A door snapped shut down the hall and footsteps headed in our direction. Kade immediately took two steps back. My stomach twisted, anxious to finally meet my mysterious relative. Henry appeared first and stepped to the side.
I gasped, gazing at this beautiful woman standing before me, wearing a long, white flowing robe. She had resemblances of my mother, perfect features, only hers were darker. Her skin was like creamy, white porcelain; her hair looked like dark-brown silk, perfectly curled down her shoulders. Big brown eyes were beaming with joy beneath long, dark eyelashes. Up until now, I thought brown eyes were boring, but she made them look exquisite.
“Emma, I’m so glad you’re here,” she said with her arms outstretched, approaching me, hugging me warmly. She then looked down and took my casted arm in her hands with a look of concern. I stood frozen, unsure of what to think, everything became overwhelming.
She stepped back. “I’m so sorry. Please excuse my behavior. I should have introduced myself first. I was just so excited to finally meet you after all these years. My name is Alaine. I’m your mother’s half-sister.”
“You look a lot like her,” I said, fighting back the tears that began to sting my eyes.
“I’m so sorry for your loss, Emma. I cannot begin to imagine the pain you are going through, but I can promise you this…I will always be here for you. You are my blood and my last living relative. We will get through this together,” she promised, leaning in gently caressing my face. Then she hugged me again tightly, stroking my hair. I hugged her back and sobbed. “It’s alright sweetheart.”
It was strange how oddly familiar she felt, like I’d known her all my life. Maybe it was because she reminded me so much of my mother.
“It’s very late. I think you should get some sleep. We will talk in the morning,” she said softly. “Henry, could you please escort Emma to her room? She must be exhausted,” Alaine asked in a soft voice. I glanced over to a large, grandfather clock standing against the wall. It was after midnight. That would explain why she didn’t want to talk tonight.
“Yes, madam,” Henry replied with a bow of his head.
“Kade, could you please assist Henry, and take Emma’s luggage to her room?”
“Of course,” Kade chimed, swiping my carry-on from Malachi’s hand, and slinging it over his shoulder. My suitcase was already gripped in his other hand.
“And after that, I would like to see you both in my study,” she said looking between Malachi and Kade. They quickly glanced at each other with a look of… Oh hell! We’re in trouble!
“Emma, I hope you find your room accommodating. If you need anything, please let Henry know.”
“I will. Thank you,” I answered.
I guess I’d have to wait for answers until tomorrow. It was much too late and I could tell she was tired. I’d leave Kade and Malachi to tell her about my near-death experience, and the creature that almost killed me. I think we all had enough drama for tonight. I felt safe here. Like nothing could get me within the confines of this house, especially with Kade and Malachi nearby.
“This way, Emma,” Henry announced, leading me up the stairway. We walked to the third level and took a left, down another hallway. He stopped at the first door on the right, swung it open, and flicked on the light. “After you,” he said motioning me to enter.
The room was large, almost the size of my mom and dad’s master suite, and the first thing that hit me were the colors… they reminded me of my room back in California. The setup was almost exact too. It wasn’t over the top, like the rest of the house. It was just… normal. The queen sized bed was covered with a fluffy, chocolate-brown bedspread, and the many different shapes and sizes of throw pillows were all welcoming me to jump in.
The furniture was a light blonde wood which made the room feel warm. There was also an attached bathroom, decorated in the same bright colors, and a large walk-in closet. Maybe I spoke too soon. This room was amazing.
“This is all mine?” I asked.
“Yes, Emma. Your aunt decorated it herself.”
“Wow. It’s…it’s amazing.”
Kade bounded in behind me, laid my suitcase on the floor next to the bed, and handed me my carry-on.
“Hey. Thanks… for everything,” I said thankfully. I didn’t want to say anything more because Henry was in the room. I wanted to thank him personally for saving my life, but I guess that too would have to wait.
“No problem. So, I guess I’ll see you tomorrow,” he muttered, his head slightly tilting to the side.
“I guess,” I said, shrugging my shoulders.
“Oh, you will,” he laughed. “I’d better get going. Have a good night’s sleep, Emma,” he said, lightly brushing my hand with his fingertips. I gasped, trying to catch my breath as the tingles surged through my arm.
Dang him!
I heard him chuckle as he left the room. What was I going to do with him? I’d have to wear gloves and a body suit with him around.
Before Henry left, he made sure I knew where the kitchen was - first floor, take a left, and go all the way to the back. Simple enough, but I doubted I’d take a trip to the kitchen tonight. He then asked if I needed anything, and when I told him I didn’t, he excused himself and snapped the door shut behind him.
I was suddenly alone and an overwhelming feeling of sadness enveloped me.
I walked over to the window and drew back the curtains. The room was obviously facing the back yard, and from what I could see, even in the darkness it was huge. It seemed about four football fields long in length and width, and at center was a labyrinth of hedges, surrounded by a well-manicured lawn. I’d have to view it again when the sun was up. It was too dark to get the full picture. There were lights around the perimeter fence, shining outward into the endless thick of trees. A bright beam of light, which I assumed was coming from the tower, combed the grounds. Wow. This was like a high-security prison, but at least I felt protected.
I sucked in a huge breath, and hoped that the creature I’d met tonight wouldn’t be intruding or looking for me. I shivered. Just as I was about to close the curtain again, I noticed a small guest house out of the corner of my eye. It was all the way to the right side of the property; a small, quaint, sort of gingerbread looking house. I wondered if that’s where Kade was staying. My heart pattered against my chest at the thought.
I didn’t know what to think of Kade. He made me wonder if he was really human. I mean, he was gorgeous, had some kind of magical charm that played with my emotions, and dulled my sadness whenever he came around. He was also strong and fast, from what I witnessed in the bathroom.
Thinking about that…what really happened in that bathroom after Malachi dragged me out? Kade was obviously alive and seemed unscathed, but what happened to the creature? Did it get away? Did he injure it? Kill it? Another chill of terror shot up my spine at the thought.
Everything in my life was one enormous question, and I knew, if I didn’t get most of those questions answered in the morning, my brain just might explode.
A dull pain emanated in my ribs and my head started to throb. I needed a pain pill, but decided to take a shower first. I opened my suitcase and found my warm pajamas, and then noticed my cast. I dug through my carry-on and found a plastic bag, stuck my casted arm into it, and tucked the open parts into the end.
I made my way into the bathroom. Two lime green towels hung on the rack, and another stack of colorful towels were folded on a shelf. A basket sat on the sink, stocked with shampoo, conditioner, soap, shaving lotion, razors, toothpaste and a new toothbrush. She’d thought of everything.
I pulled back the colorful polka-dotted shower curtain and turned on the water. It was ice cold, like glacier ice. It took a few minutes until it starte
d to get warm, but once it did, I peeled out of my clothes and stood under it, letting the hot, steamy water beat down on my head and aching body. It didn’t last too long because my right shoulder began to ache from holding my cast out of the water. I quickly washed my hair and scrubbed as best I could.
It felt good to be clean and in my comfortable stretchy pajamas.
Back in the bedroom, I went to the desk and flicked on the small lamp. The laptop looked brand-new, and had a cord attached to it that was plugged into the wall. I wondered if it had internet service. It wouldn’t hurt to try. Besides, I wanted to shoot Lia and Jeremy an email just to let them know that I had arrived safely. Almost. But I wouldn’t let them know. They wouldn’t believe me anyway.
As the computer booted up, I walked over to the bed and shoved the decorative pillows to the far side. The computer made a chiming noise. It was ready.
Please have internet service! Please!
I clicked on the “e” and the internet instantly popped up.
“YES!”
I quickly signed into my email account. There were two messages waiting from Lia and Jeremy. I clicked on Jeremy’s first.
—————
Hey Emma,
I hope you made it to Alaska in one piece. Did you see any bears? Things won’t be the same without you here. Please let us know that you arrived safely.
Sincerely,
Jeremy
—————
Sincerely? He was so crazy.
I clicked reply.
—————
Hey Jeremy,
Yes, I made it in one piece, barely, and NO… I didn’t see any bears. It was too dark to notice. But you’ll be the first to know if I spot one. I’ll try and keep Lia’s camera with me… just in case.
Well, it’s late, and I’m gonna hit the sack. I’ll be in touch. I promise. At least this place has internet service.
~Emma
—————
Next, I clicked on Lia’s.
—————
Hey Emma!
Oh my gosh. I totally broke down and cried all the way home after we left you at the hospital. I miss you already. So how was your trip? Better yet… how was that hot guy that came to get you? Did you sit by him? Spill the juicy details, okay!