Fall From Grace (19 page)

As I continue to squirm, I can feel the grip loosening on my back arms. An odd thrum begins to course through my body and I start to feel a little strange. I'm finally able to open my mouth for a second attempt at a scream and instead have the sudden urge to clamp my mouth as hard as I can on this guys hand. Such a chick thing to do but whatever works. As my teeth sink into his index and middle fingers, I feel my incisors bore into his flesh like it's ice cream. I can taste the metallic tinge of blood as he rips his hand away from my mouth. Before he yanks his hand back in reflex, I can see that I've made a gash that cut straight through his fingers. What the? I have no time to react, I take that bizarre turn of events into my favour, turn around, and lift my leg up to give him a kick with all the force I can muster. I hit him with all the strength I have, which really should have moved him about a centimetre, but instead he's flying back into the bar, hitting the counter and flipping up over it and into the back shelves of booze bottles. He falls down behind the bar as they all crash onto his head. Ok that was weird.

As I turn back towards where I think Ash is, big guy number five jumps up in front of me as instinct takes over and I pull my arm back into a swing. It doesn't get a chance to make impact though as I see a flash of light and he just melts in front of me like he's been hit by a taser. Ash is standing behind him as he falls, breathing heavily with sweat beading his temples but seemingly unharmed. I can't see the big burly head honcho guy, and really I don't care, we need to get the hell out of here.

"Feel like making it an early night?" asks Ash.

"Ya, this place is sorta boring me." I quip as he grabs my hands and we tear out of the bar. We run to the bike and grab our helmets hustling to get some distance from this place. Ash rips up the gravel and dirt as he spins the back wheel and wields the full power of the bike; it can go a lot faster then he demonstrated before. It only takes a few minutes but we are now miles away and I think the shock of the situation finally hit me like a ton of bricks. I think Ash can sense I'm breaking up and pulls off onto an old dirt road. It's mostly dark out and the only light we have is from the front head lamp. I start to hyperventilate as he slows to a stop and shuts off the bike. I scramble for the helmet but my hands are shaking so hard, I can't seem to unhook the strap. Ash jumps off first, hurling his own helmet into the dirt and turns to help me. He pulls it off and drops it to the ground as I half fall, half stumble off the bike. He envelops me in a stronghold hug that I cling to as if I am about to faint. He murmurs some soothing words into my ears trying to get me to calm down. After a few minutes I try to push myself away from him. I need some answers.

"Ok, did I dream that whole thing back there, what the eff happened? How are we still alive and how did you kick all that ass?" I frantically blurt out at him.

"What did you see Stella?" asks Ash.

"What did I SEE?! What I saw wasn't real. I saw you kick four guys asses without a single hand lifted. I saw some guy change into a horrific monster before my eyes. I single handedly kicked one huge guys butt and sunk my teeth into his hand like it was a ham sandwich! What I SAW doesn't make sense!" I am frantic, screaming at Ash with my fists balled tight at my sides trying desperately to stand my ground and make sense of the situation.

"I'm not going to lie to you Stella, but I'm also not sure you're ready to hear the truth."

"What kind of cryptic crap is that?!"

"I really wanted to do this differently, it was so stupid of me to take you there tonight..." He starts to pace the road, running his fingers through his hair looking really worried. Panic is starting to boil up into my chest as my heart is banging like sledgehammer. I can feel my anxiety ready to take over my body any second as my hands are shaking like leaves.

"I think you need to sit down for this Stella." He stops pacing and is looking back at me with an intensity that means business.

I stumble back to lean on the bike and barely ekk out a whisper, "What is wrong with me Ash? What happened back there? Am I hallucinating?"

"Ok before I start, you have to try to remain calm and hear me out fully, don't go all chick freak out ok?"

"Ok, SO not the time to be making fun of my gender." I fold my arms across my chest to ward off the chill that's running up and down my spine.

Ash takes a deep breath, "Ok here goes. What you saw was an altercation between two members of our world. That, back there, was a pack of lycanthropes with a real bone to pick. Bad joke I know."

What did he just say? He folds one arm across his chest while chewing on the other hands' nails. He looks really nervous. He has got to be kidding me, right?

"Werewolves? Ok, now I know I'm being punked..." I stand up and look around the darkness, searching for vindication. "I know you're out there, you can come out now!" I yell at the dark. "Very funny Gabs!" I give a few nervous giggles thinking I have not really lost it and it was just an elaborate prank. The serious look on Ash's face says otherwise. He physically looks exhausted, drained of all energy. My momentary relief disappears as I can feel my legs start to wobble underneath me and I grab hold of the bike for stability. Ash rushes to my side and helps me to the ground to sit. He sits across from me in the dirt and takes my hands, searching my face for my reaction.

"You're not kidding are you? Please tell me you're kidding?" He's shaking his head slowly, but never loses eye contact with me. My senses are in hyper-drive, I can feel the pebbles digging into my jeans and like my brain is about to implode. I drop his hands and place my palms on the dirt, digging my nails into the gravel until I can feel my hands starting to bleed.
 

Werewolves.
 

Werewolves.
 

Werewolves?
 

The more I think it, the more it sounds absolutely ridiculous. I read fantasy books on this, it isn't really REAL. It's make believe, fairy tales, it's a Stephanie Meyer novel for pete's sake! I don't know how long I sat there. Minutes, an hour. Who knows. No amount of time was long enough for me to process this turn of events.

"Stella, can you please say something, your silence is killing me." Ash is pleading and I can tell my inner monologue is making my face do all sorts of strange expressions as I try and work through the impossible scenario.

Something he said finally hit me. "Wait a sec. You said two members of 'our' world. who was the other member?"

"Uh. Me."

"What?" I answer.

"I said - me."

"I know what you said, but what does that MEAN?"

"I mean that I'm a supernatural as well, an atmoskinesis demon. I can control and create all of the four earth elements whenever I want. It's pretty awesome actually to finally be able... "

I start to laugh now, uncontrollably and hysterically, moving from my seated position and far away from this jerk.

"You're good. I mean you're really some piece of work Ash, knowing my supernatural fetish, taking me to that museum, staging this elaborate ruse of werewolves and this demon crap. You're good. All this to impress a girl? geez, I should count myself flattered. Is this some sort of sick game to you? You're very skilled at it you know, does it typically work on you're stupider conquests?" I brush off the dirt and rocks off my jeans. "You totally drugged me back there, didn't you? Oh my god, was it some sort of acid trip? You are a sick, sick puppy you know that!" I shout.

I'm pacing the road throughout my tirade and finally stop to notice that Ash hasn't moved a millimetre. Not an inch. His head is bowed into his hands as his fingers are entwined into his hair. I can't see his expression, but I can feel it regardless. I can feel his despair, his whole energy level is down to the ground and I can actually
feel
it. It was this feeling that led to my realization that maybe he isn't lying about this absurd turn of events. That statement suddenly overwhelms me as my whole body gives out, surrendering to the dark spots crowding my vision. TMI is definitely an understatement today.
 

I don't know how long I was out, and this would be the very first faint I have managed, so I hope it wasn't too embarrassing. Far away I hear a voice calling me back. It starts off very low but starts to gain volume as my eyelids start to flutter, taking in the blurry images around me.

"Stella? Stella, c'mon wake up." Ash is leaning over me, gently stroking my cheeks, cupping my head and upper body in a protective embrace.

"Ok ok, give me some air guy, you're crushing me." He loosens his grip as I unsteadily try to sit up, blinking away the haze that is filtering my vision. "How long was I out for?"

"Just a few minutes. One second you were standing, the next, you were flat on your back. You really are an excellent fainter."
 

"Well that's what you get for telling me you're some sort of demon that battles werewolves in skeezy bars. Serves you right." He laughs a little at this as he leans back on his arms and looks up to the star filled sky.
 

"You're not lying are you?" I'm still sitting on the ground, rubbing my temples and leaning away from him. My legs are off to the side, as I survey the dark trees surrounding us.

"'Fraid not." He pulls his head back to look at me. Silence envelops us for what seems like forever as I mentally revisit every encounter we've had, trying to piece it all together in my brain, searching for clues that would have given him away. I don't know how long we sit in silence as I mentally re-coup but Ash's voice finally wakes me up.

"Are you going to speak to me again Stells, or have you finally lost the urge to yell at me? I can't say I'd be sad to see that one go."

This snaps me back and I start to think out loud. "Gabby was right. She said she saw you one night, in an alley by The Grind. Well that totally makes more sense now..." I ponder this a little longer, she's going to shit bricks when she finds out, but then a flood of questions come pouring out.

"So are you like evil or something? How old are you really? Are there any demons who attend AlessaU besides you? No wonder you have such great hair." I look up at him, waiting for answers.

"Um, ok." He sits up and starts through the list.
 

"Let me see. Yup. 121 years young. Nope, and the hair is really due to good genes."

"This is absolutely absurd. Incredible. I really don't know what to think right now. Wait you're how old?"

"Look, I know this is a huge pill to process right now, are you going to be ok with this, or are you in some state of denial that will send you over the edge as soon as you get home?"

"I'm not going to say that it doesn't shock the Shit out of me, but it does make sense, considering what I saw at the bar tonight. I'm not about to crack up into a million pieces Ash, I think I just need to go home and process some things. But if my Dad sees my hair like this, he'll jump to conclusions and we'll have more to worry about then mere werewolves in a bar." I slowly start to get up, test my legs for stability, shake off the dirt and try to resemble my normal self. I rummage through my bag for a much needed brush and a little make-up refresh; standing in front of the bike using the headlamp for my light source.

"Jeez, I thought this was going to go way worse. I mean it isn't everyday you're told you're a demon. You're pretty incredible you know." I stop brushing the dirt out of my hair, mid stroke. What did he say? I stand up as I see him cleaning his pants off and grabbing the helmets that have fallen into the ditch. What did he SAY?

"Um Ash, Can you repeat that," I croak out in a whisper.

He stiffens at my question and slowly turns around to face me. I can't read his expression as I'm still in front of the head light and everything around me is blackness; I can only see his dark outline.

"That you're a part of our world Stella, you're a supernatural like me," he mutters in a low voice.

And I'm down again like that ton of bricks. I can faintly hear Ash asking if I'm ok, trying to wake me up, but seriously he has GOT to be joking. This is a dream, not really happening, ok enough with the vampire books, time to become a little more diverse with my reading lists. As I slowly come back to reality for the second time tonight, I have a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. Could he be telling the truth? Some weird Shit has certainly been going on lately. But supernatural, c'mon, this is too much like life imitating art for my liking.
 

"And, she's back once again. Twice in one night Stella, that's gotta kill some major brain cells right?" Ash is half smiling, trying to make light, but I know he's freaking out on the inside. I can tell by the inflection in his voice and lame attempt at humour. Actually if I'm to be honest with this new turn of events, I can tell just by reading his energy levels as stress and trepidation vibes radiate through his body. Well I suppose my new demon revelation would explain that freaky new talent, Fack.

As he slowly lifts me to my feet and I steady myself, he drops my hands and stands back from me digging his hands into his pockets waiting for me to speak again.

What can I possibly say next? Where do I go from here. I need a stiff drink.

"I think you should take me home," I say.

"Ok."

We ride back in complete silence the whole way home. He takes it really slow and steady, probably afraid I'll hurl myself off in a fit of panic. I mean I think I'm actually ok. Information overload and probably the strangest date I'VE ever been on, but I really feel oddly calm; as if a lot of questions have just been answered. My feelings of alienation, strange changes in my looks lately, and it would definitely explain my nearly biting off that guys hand. I have about a million questions, but I really just want some peace and quiet to think it through in a long, hot bath.