Cast & Fall (40 page)

“
I
know, it’s hard for you to really understand all this but I
want you to know that my
true
nature
had
never been this strong.” We were both silent for a moment, the
weight of all his revelations hovered in my head. Understanding was
not so much as a problem as the acceptance of the truth—but
which truth, seemed to be the
difference
between Tristan and I.

We
suddenly found ourselves downstairs at my request. I needed to
think—to breathe—to carefully choose my words. He led us
downstairs to a very spacious
garage,
and to my surprise—I spotted the black shiny motorcycle. He had
five additional cars—all looked expensive, some vintage and the
others might just had
been
out of the market.

“
Why
do you always drive your truck if you have other cars? And why do you
need a car at all?” Just when I thought I was getting close to
knowing more about him, I had realized how far, I was still from
really knowing him.
“
Well,
the truck had become a necessity with you…I don’t have a
need for a car myself and the reason I got the others…well…I
wanted to know the fascination of men with cars…to feel human
in some way—to understand.” His words seemed loaded.

“
So
how are you doing with that?” my voice, soft as a whisper.

“
I
still don’t understand, I guess…they’re only
material things. Besides, flying is a million times better.” He
grinned. I cringed.

He
seemed to have recovered his sense of humor. I felt my emotion
settled and decided to take advantage of his change of mood. I was
about to ask him another question when he beat me to it.

“
I
have never driven until actually recently…like I said, I have
no need for a car…It’s a strange thing…n
eed
,”
he paused on the last word as if he was merely learning it for the
first time. “Although, for humans, want and need seemed to be
intertwined,” he added. Then. He glanced at me with a hint of
susceptibility in his eyes.

“
I
seem to have a very strong need to be around you,” his eyes
showed a subtle tinge of fire…then it was gone. It was so
subtle that I questioned whether It was really there. His expression
was cool but vulnerable.

“
I’m
more than lucky though…” he continued. “You seem
to find me very attractive…and find my company simply
irresistible…intoxicating even.” A smug smile passed his
lips. His eyes piercing. It completely caught me off guard. I think I
just had a stroke. Of course he knew how I felt about him…but
for him to actually say it…It’s beyond embarrassing. I
was scarlet. It took me a millennium to recover.

“
Cocky
much?” I blurted, still flushed. He chuckled.

“
I
think, I had to still learn that one…but brutal honesty…we
have a talent for.”

“
I’ll
remember that,” I mumbled, trying to inwardly warn myself while
trying to process his extreme mood changes.

“
Besides
you’d just confessed that you love me,” his face, still
smug, I blushed again. Trying to change the subject, I swept my
finger on a slick, red-hot car behind us. “What car is this?”

“
Well,
that’s a 1962 Ferrari GTO.”

“
And
this one,” I switched my finger to a sleek silver next to it.

“…
..a
Porsche Spyder and the one next to it is a 1964 Aston Martin.”

“
Do
you want to go for a drive?” he volunteered.

“
Maybe,
later,” I gulped. Speed isn’t exactly my thing.

I
led him back inside the house. I still had so many questions. We went
back to the living room. We sat across each other.

“
What
are the other angels like? Do you see them a lot?” It felt
strange asking these questions. As I utter the words, I could hear
the skepticism in my voice. It wasn’t because I didn’t
believe Tristan, but because up to this point, it still felt
unbelievably surreal.

“
Yes,
I see the others a lot but I always…we always have to be
careful. The dephils
are
becoming a strong group and they have dedicated their whole existence
in
eliminating
humans and all the fallen angels that are not on their
side—specifically
the
Nephilim.

“
Nephilim?”
I remembered Tristan mention that word before.

“
Nephilims
are the human and fallen angels’ offspring.”

“
Oh…”
I didn’t realize there’s so much more. “Angels and
humans can have children?” I suddenly felt overwhelmed. I was
exhausted. A whole world I didn’t even know existed, opened
right in front of me.

“
We
can talk about that part later. You must be very tired. I’ll
take you home now,” I didn’t protest. I really did feel
tired and my mind couldn’t take anymore. Suddenly, Tristan’s
eyes were on me. He held my hand as his gaze reached for mine.

“
I
want you to know, I will do everything…everything to protect
you…I am an archangel and is stronger than most fallen angels
including the dephils. I will never let anything happen to you. Do
you hear me!” his voice, reassuring. There was an underlying
promise to his words.

I
nodded. I believed him and a trace of calm spread over me. But, then—

“
Now,
will you do me a favor?” his voice spiked higher.

“
Uh…oh…what
sort of favor?” I was instantly nervous again.

“
Well…maybe
favor was the wrong word…I was just wondering if you would
like to introduce me to your father…” he said calmly.

My
mind was momentarily confused. I couldn’t simply shift from the
dark world of the immortals…to the whole subject of Steve. The
whole idea briefly scared me. I couldn’t speak.

“
Since,
you will be under my wing—so to speak…It would be good
if he knew of me, since I will be at your house more often…I
mean, that I’m more than a friend,” he added. His voice
was simply alluring.

“
A
friend!…you’ve never been my friend,” I teased. He
frowned. I guess Tristan and dry humor didn’t mix.

“
Shall
I introduce you as my boyfriend, then?” I boldly said. He
smiled brilliantly.

I
ntroducing
Tristan to Steve was more difficult than I had realized. Of course
Steve had already met Tristan—the time I had fainted and he had
brought me home and the time, he brought me flowers at the hospital.
I wasn’t entirely sure how I felt about keeping this from
Steve, but I knew that this is what I needed to do despite the guilt.
Steve and I are close in many ways and we made a pact once, to never
keep secrets from each other no matter how big it was.

Of
course, this wouldn’t be the first time I had broken that
promise in an attempt to protect Steve. I had also withheld a couple
of near death experiences including the one from California. I would
love more than anything to honor our pact especially when it came to
Tristan but I knew I couldn’t afford to risk anything.

Steve
was the only relative I have left, and knowing the sacrifices he‘d
made to choose honesty—even through the difficulties of my
mother’s death. I knew how much it cost him to relive the
horror of her death through my eyes. To tell me all over again for
the first time—who was the only witness, what had happened to
her. But I know I must do this, not only for Steve’s sake but
for Tristan’s. Steve was never big on talking about boys even
when I was younger. I suppose, because I have never given him much
reason to be worried. I actually ran away from boys, instead of
pursuing them—now I know what might have been the reason.

I
yanked the big pan out of the oven. The chicken was golden brown. I
made a special dinner for the three of us—lemon stuffed chicken
and rice. One of Steve’s
favorite.
Of course, he’d tell anyone, everything that I cooked, was his
favorite.

As
I was setting the table, the doorbell rang. Steve got up to open the
door. I was nervous as usual. The mere thought of Tristan always sent
flutters in my stomach. Now, being here to meet Steve, gave me an
extra doze of anxiety. It made everything so much more real now. The
idea of a fallen angel, who I had completely fallen in love with, and
him with me, who is about to meet my father officially, sent
unimaginable jolt of electricity throughout my body. I still couldn’t
wrap my mind around it. But, before I could truly go into a full
panic attack, I heard his smooth voice, magnetic and calm as always.

“
Hello
Tristan, come on in,” Steve said. His tone, more excited than I
anticipated.

“
Nice
to formally meet you, sir.” his smooth voice washed over me
like a warm embrace. I felt my anxiety subsiding, my heart shifting
to a calmer place.
“
Thank
you again for taking her home when she fainted.”

“
I
actually wanted to apologize for that. We went on a hike and it was
my Idea…”

“
Don’t
worry about it, It’s not your fault,” Steve interjected.
I didn’t hear Tristan respond, but I knew what he was thinking.
I wished sometimes, that he’d stop blaming himself for
everything that happens to me. I’ve had fainting spells since I
was a child.

As
they veered toward the kitchen, Tristan’s eyes found mine and
he shot me a quick smile, sending a warm flutter in me, making me
flush warm. I came toward him excitedly and he gave me a peck on the
cheek.

“
So,
Dad…this is
Tristan…my
boyfriend.
”
I announced so formally. I really liked how that sounded. I peered
behind my lashes next to me. Tristan’s face was bright as the
sun. What I wouldn’t give to see that.
Always
.

“
So,
Tristan, what are you majoring in?” Steve asked, as we all
headed to the table. I laughed silently, as I recalled how we
rehearsed this exact line of questioning. Tristan quickly answered
‘pre-med.’ That part wasn’t a lie. Tristan wasn’t
in any rush to finish school and being a doctor naturally came as a
perfect choice, being that his full time job had become…to
help people. Obviously, it went deeper than that. From an outsider, I
knew that he wanted to redeem himself from his past.

“
Wow…that’s
a good career choice. That takes a long time, though. Are you up for
the challenge?”

“
Yes,
sir,” Tristan smiled. His dimples, showing much deeper. If only
Steve knew that Tristan didn’t really need to study to practice
medicine. He’d be the most qualified physician and undeniably
the best.

“
That’s
quite something,” Steve seemed more than pleased. “As
long as you know what it takes and if its something you love. You
know, I’d be happy if Katheryna chose another career path, as
long as she loves what she does and she’s happy.”

“
Helping
people…becoming a doctor…It has become my purpose…my
passion.” Tristan’s face lit as he said it with
conviction.

“
Well,
that’s best reason enough.”

“
Kat,
this is delicious.” It didn’t take much for Steve to be
impressed about anything
that
I made. According to him, I’m the second best cook next to my
mother. He dug
his
fork again and took a big bite.

“
Thanks,
Dad,” I said, hoping, it really tasted better and he didn’t
need to lie, since Tristan would know if he did. He’d sense a
change in his pulse. Tristan sensing people’s
emotions
was quite useful in detecting lies and in more ways, he could also
become a perfect cop. I tried to erase the thought that suddenly
popped in my head. It
wasn’t
exactly relevant at the moment.

“
Yes,
thank you. This is great,” Tristan said it with as much
enthusiasm as Steve did. I looked at him and I have suddenly paused
eating. There was something different about the way he enjoyed his
food. Fixated on my curiosity, I hardly ate and just watched Tristan
polish his plate.

“
Are
you not hungry?” Tristan’s voice interrupted my
intriguing thought.

“
I’m
actually ready for dessert.” I got up and took out,
‘my-made-from scratch-apple pie,’ slicing it and gave
each of us a generous slice.