Divinity: The Gathering: Book One (22 page)

Officer Cam’s police cruiser was conve
niently parked next to my car. I pressed the key fob to unlock my car and then began to load my stuff into the back seat along with the crutch before opening the drivers’ side door.

I backed myself into the driver’s seat and eased my injured ankle inside to position over the gas pedal to it test out. I d
epressed the gas pedal, already feeling the pangs of discomfort shoot up my leg making me grit my teeth and wince.

No! Officer Black had been right about being i
ncapacitated and unable to drive after all. I couldn’t drive like this! Even so, I was determined and even more determined not to admit I was wrong and needing him to take me back to the University.

The front doors to the hospice opened and Officer Cam’s tall, built si
lhouette was outlined in the light coming from inside.

I turned the key in the ignition, and my car spu
ttered and… then died.

“What?” I said incredulously to myself as I turned the key again. The car wouldn’t even turn over this time.

I’ve only had this car for a year, and I bought it new! It’s never given me problems before.

I turned the key several more time when a soft knock at the window made me jump and gasp.

I sighed. This night just couldn’t be happening!

Maybe I should have listened to China and not come out here after all.

I paused for a moment before opening the door because apparently, the car window button wouldn’t work either. Officer Cam stood back so I would be able to see him when he spoke without having to break my neck.

“Sounds like the battery,” He
told me. “It can’t be I bought it new, and it’s been working fine. This car isn’t even a year-old.” I informed him.

“Try your headlights.” He then suggested. I turned the switch for my headlights and no luck there. “You might have left them on when you got here,” He then offered.

“They’re automatic I don’t have to manually turn them off,” I said getting out of the car with a frustrated sigh, “I don’t suppose you have jumper cables then?” I asked him.

“It’s against policy actually but I could call a tow truck for you, or maybe you have a friend who can pick you up?” He then suggested.

I sighed in exhaustion. “No, I don’t wanna bother anyone this late.” I then said pulling out my cell phone to call information for the nearest towing company.

“The ride back to the university is still good.” He then offered with a smile.

I paused and thought about all the pros and cons. Despite the return of the static sensation and the unease he gave me. He was a police officer. I just wanted to get back to the apartment, crawl into bed, and forget this nightmare of nights.

“Okay, let me get my stuff out of the back and—thank you Officer Black.” I resigned as I took my keys, got out, and opened the door to get my things out of the backseat.

“You’re welcome. Your name is Star, right?” He asked. I hadn’t even asked or expected him to take my purse, hoodie and messenger bag for me to the cruiser as I juggled to position the crutch under my arm, but he did before I could even protest. I hadn’t planned to use the crutch, but I took it with me anyway and limped to the cruiser while he watched me and shook his head at my perseverance.

I nodded, “Yeah. I’ll call the Tow Company in the morning.” I told him.

             
He nodded as he walked over to the driver’s side and started the cruiser up in order to get the inside warmed up. I then moved back around to hold the passenger-side door open for me before I even got the chance to reach for the handle myself. Once I settled into the passenger seat and got comfortable, he exchanged my purse and messenger tote bag for the crutch, which I gladly handed to him. He closed my door and put it into the backseat.

I‘d never ridden in a police car b
efore, which was a good thing, but I was always curious. I buckled in, admiring all the lighted gadgets and monitors mounted in the dash. The scent of new sweet leather hit my nose along with another scent amid his cologne. It was almost like rain and cinnamon or something. Maybe his laundry detergent, I supposed.

I leaned back into the seat and sighed deeply internally. I don’t know the significance of today and all that’s ha
ppened, but I hoped it wouldn’t get any worse…could it? Better not say that out loud or even think it. I mean, given present eye candy and company maybe what was left of this night wouldn’t be so terrible after all. He climbed into the drivers’ seat, not bothering to buckle up himself, but I didn’t question it, though I found it hypocritical since he was a police officer. I wasn’t surprised at how far back his seat was from the steering wheel to accommodate his legs.

I scooted closer to the door, hugging my purse and messenger bag to me as he backed up, and we pulled out into traffic, bound for the university. The tickling static sensation that I kept feeling on my skin seemed to be the strongest in here now. I found myself rubbing my arms and the fine hairs beneath my sleeves that had been obviously standing on end in reaction to the sensation, made soft popping crackling sounds as I did.

Strange.

Maybe it was from the humidity, and the cold combined I supposed. I listened to the soft squawk of the walkie-talkie as different voices relayed messages back and forth, though apparently having nothing to do with him since he ignored them all.

“Something wrong?” he asked out of the blue.

“Huh?” I turned to face him.

“You keep rubbing your arms, are you cold? I’ll turn the heater up,” He offered, reaching for the heat control dial on the dash board.

“No, I’m fine.” I shook my head. I probably should have used a thicker hoodie or something for later, but I forgot the thicker one in my car. It was silent for a moment as I stared ahead at the winding, dark ribbon of road and headlights passing us on the opposite side of the roadway.

“Is this your first year at the university?” He
asked.

I smoothed my unruly curls, affected by the cold, static and humidity. “I’m a sophomore actually.”  I said keeping my eyes focused ahead.

Sprinkles of water continued to dot the windshield, and the wipers made a soft whispery sweep every ten seconds.

“Are you from here?” He then asked.

“No.” I replied.

“Where are you from?” he then asked.

“Originally or before I started college?” I asked him.

He smirked. “Both.” He replied.

I couldn’t help but feel a slight playful smile begin to play across my own lips. “I was born in Jamaica. My mother and her family are native. I moved here for school from Florida,” I told him. “Jamaica? In the Caribbean? I’ve heard that’s a ver
y beautiful place.” He commented. “I suppose.” I shrugged a shoulder.

“How come you left there?” He then asked.

“My father was in the military.” I said quickly.

He nodded in understanding then asked, “What branch?” 

“Army.” I replied.

It was quiet again for a moment and this time I wanted to ask him some questions before he could even think to ask me anything else about my parents. “So, how long have you been a police o
fficer?” I asked turning to look at him. He must have just gotten out of the academy because he did look young, like in his early twenties.

I could see him smile via the slight
rise of his cheekbone even though it was only his profile that I could make out in the dimness of the car. The shadows obscured most of his features.

“Not long,” He answered glancing over at me.

I nodded.

“What are you majoring in?” He then asked.

I sighed a little. I didn’t know whether to take his questions as just conversation or being nosy. For some reason, it made me nervous about telling him anything with him being a police officer and all, not that I was guilty of anything per se.

I really didn’t even know the answer to that personally. I shrugged a shoulder, “At first it had been business administration then …I started just coasting and taking a lot of courses that would probably never earn me a living and to this day, I still haven’t decided.” I told him.

He laughed a little at my answer and nodded.

I smiled.

“Are you sure you’re alright? To be frank, speaking as a cop that is, in my opinion, your injuries aren’t consistent with running into a door. Unless… it was steel and you were running at about fifty miles an hour; then stuck your foot in yourself and slammed your ankle in it. I mean I’ve heard of some freak accidents before, but yours sounds a little strange to me.” He then said.

I shifted and looked at him then. He turned to glance at me for a moment.

“No one hit me if that’s what you’re suggesting. Don’t worry no charges need to be filed or arrests made, trust me.” I told him.

There was a brief pause.

“So what really happened then?” He pressed on, and for some reason; it made my heart thump, and I got nervous. Obviously, he was implying that he knew something to the contrary.

This was how many horror movies started out I thought as my mind got to working. I mean, after all who’s to say he wasn’t the one who hit me? He shows up mysteriously after all that took place an
yway.

“
Do you need to file a report or something?” I asked him.

“No, just my own concerns for your safety.” He replied.

“It’s okay I’m not being stalked by anyone.” I told him.

Any actual ‘human being’ that is anyway.

My cell phone rang and I immediately went to fish it out of my purse, pulling it out and reading the display. It was Joel. I didn’t want to talk to him in here so I’d call or text him later. I let the call go to voicemail.

“You know you’re awfully stubborn. I’m not tr
ying to pry or suggest anything. I’m only trying to help ensure that you’re okay, not just on the outside I mean,” He then said and that threw me for a surprise. I instantly felt guilty. It was just my nature, something I’ve always maintained because I had to. Get a grip Star, I told myself. He is a cop. It wasn’t like I thumbed a ride and got in with a psychotic looking, greasy stranger.

“I know…I just…I’m really okay,” I stated and trailed off, looking out of the passenger-side wi
ndow. That was an outright lie. Demons were after me, they assaulted me, and they almost had me. Come to think of it, where were they planning to take me anyway? The one in Professor Phillips office had said that I should come willingly but what did that mean? Go where? Was that where these demons were trying to take me? Somewhere to kill or sacrifice me wherever ‘there’ was?

There was a brief silence.

“I could go for something to eat right about now, how about you?” He then asked turning to look at me.

I raised a brow, turning to face him again, “Aren’t you on duty?” I asked.

“No, my shift ended a few moments ago. Unless you’re in a hurry to return to the University, it’s only nine forty eight right now. I know an all-night diner up ahead, eastbound.” He then offered.

That actually did sound tempting, but then I thought about my face, and how I really longed for nothing more
than to crawl into my bed and disappear— “I’m not really hungry.” I replied.

“Something warm? Like maybe a cup of coffee or cocoa?” he then suggested. I drew in a breath, looking at him with a curious gaze as I painfully tried to lick my lips. Cocoa is always good when it’s chilly outside.

“Well, I don’t wanna draw attention to…” I began referring to my face.

He shook his head, “You won’t don’t worry.” He smiled.

IX: Cam’ael:

              Not for one moment did I trust Morning Star even though the male and female divine ones that I had requested were waiting for me when I had returned to the entrance. They both remained chained and bound together and blindfolded, which was a good thing. It meant that they still had their sanity.

I knew I would be followed so I took them both to the edge of the Infinite Waters shoreline, which would be a perfect spot to ‘release’ them as none of the dark ones or shadows could see past or cross into it an
yway. It was also a test to make sure no darkness lurked within them either. If it had, they would not have been able to cross this far into the side of light and be touched by the lapping waves without painful resistance. The darkness within them would automatically be destroyed and try to take them with it.

Neither one of them spoke; the female was essentially catatonic and the male, though stoic still trembled in fear. I could only imagine the horrors and abuse they had been subjected to. They were still mortal after all, and though they could not see, sometimes hearing and smelling what lie around you tended to be just as mentally and traumatically disturbing if not more.