Rise of the Fallen 1 - My Soul to Keep (22 page)

“Come on, Jess. I’ll walk you to your door.”

Instead of holding my hand, she wrapped her arms around mine and leaned
on me. I didn’t mind in the slightest. In fact, I walked slowly and enjoyed every
moment of it. “What are we doing this weekend?”

I looked down at the top of her head and kissed it gently. “Whatever
you want.”

“Let’s go to the park. I want to swing on the swings with you and do
stupid things like that.”

I laughed. “Anything you want.”

“Sweet. Pick me up at noon. Don’t be late,” she said as we reached
the stairs to her front porch. Her dad had put one single solitary pumpkin by the
front door. It had a simple face carved into it, nothing ornate. It was still the
scariest pumpkin I'd ever seen.

“Here you go,” I said and helped her up the steps. We paused at the
front door and she leaned in for a kiss. I didn’t want to disappoint her…so I gave
her one. It started slowly and built, but before I could really enjoy it, the front
porch light flicked on. I gently pulled away.

“Dad,” I whispered.

The door opened and Mr. James stood there. I looked over at him and
had every intention of being nice to him…

He stood there, framed by the door, the vastness of his feathered,
white wings filled every available inch. His eyes shined blue with inner fire. His
normally brown hair, kept in a ponytail, flew free and was eerily white. He stared
into the depths of my soul. His mouth opened to speak, but a screeching noise erupted
like the cry of a hawk.

“Hi, Daddy. I’m home.”

“Hi, pumpkin. Come on inside before you catch a cold,” he said in his
normal voice.

What the hell? There’s no way she didn’t hear him…

“Night, Jess,” I said, playing along.

“Good night, Conrad.”

“Good night, sir.”

I turned and walked back to the limo. Slowly.
If her dad was a Chosen…

Clarisse’s explanation of the Cursed came flying back into my brain.
Offspring of a human and either a Chosen or a Fallen are doomed to suffering from
the time they are born. They shall either pass on or inherit their parent’s form
at their death.

The knowledge was a blow to my heart. Jessie’s life flashed before
my eyes. Her blindness, the death of her mother, the death of her grandparents…it
all made sense. She'd suffered more than anybody I'd ever met. Hot tears started
to roll down my cheeks. I entered the back of the limo without even looking at the
driver.

“I see you figured it out. I’m sorry, Connor.”

I looked up at Clarisse. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“I wanted to. I just couldn’t catch you alone long enough. It sucks,
I know.”

“So what happens now?”

“Enjoy spending time with her while you can. The Cursed never live
past their second decade. I think her father knows that. It's probably why he’s
letting her spend time with you. If she weren’t a Nephalim, you can bet your sweet
butt he’d have kicked your ass to the curb by now.”

Even
that
made sense. If Jess had so little time left…he wouldn’t
want to do anything to make her sad. He was probably going crazy wondering when.
I know it’s all I could think about now.

“It’s just not fair,” I whimpered and started crying. Clarisse actually
moved across the limo and wrapped me in her arms.

“I know, Connor. It’s why they’re called the Cursed. We were never
meant to breed with humans. Only the most selfish of us would put our needs and
wants over the lives of our children. If anybody is to blame, it’s Jessie’s father.
Hate him.”

“If I feel anything for him, it’s pity. I really like, maybe even love
Jess, but I can only imagine what he’s going through.”

Clarisse opened her mouth to say something else but ended up snapping
it shut. She did say, “Well, you’re almost home. You can think about it all night
if you want. If you need me, call me.”

I looked her in the eye. She might be brutal to me most of the time,
but I could see she really cared I was hurting. I leaned over and planted a chaste
kiss on her cheek. “Thanks, Clarisse.”

She reached up and touched the spot I kissed. “Yeah, well. You’re just
lucky things suck right now, or I’d a punched you for kissing me.” She blushed.

“I didn’t punch you when you kissed me. That’s not fair,” I said with
a wink. She blushed even more.

The limo pulled over in front of my house. Most of the lights were
on.
Mom and Dad must have waited up for me
. “Goodnight, Connor,” Clarisse
said with a tiny little smile.

“Night, my friend. I’ll see you tomorrow.” I didn’t wait for the driver.
I just opened the door and stepped out into the night. I put my hands in my pockets
and walked to my front door thinking mostly about Jess. I wanted to do
something,
but I didn’t know what. I really didn’t want to go up to my room and pout or
play video games.
I should go look for the bad guy. He has to be around somewhere.

The front door opened before I could turn around. A very worried looking
female parental unit stood in the door looking like she would start crying any second.
“Oh, thank God you’re okay. Get in here. Your sister told us what happened at the
dance.”

She threw her arms around me and yanked me inside. I looked at the
couch and Dad was holding a very red nosed, crying Caelyn. I almost did a double
take.
When did she get emotions. Other than hate. And snottyness.

“I’m fine. Why were you guys worried?”

“Because you ran after that thing, you moron!”

I nearly fainted.
Caelyn was worried? About me?

“Uh, I just ran to see what it was…I wasn’t going to fight it. I swear.
I’m not stupid.”

“If you ran out of the safe gymnasium, I’m going to have to agree with
your sister, Connor. That was monumentally stupid.”

I looked at my father in shock. He rarely called his kids stupid. He
must have been pissed. “Sorry, Dad. It won’t happen again.”

“You’re right. You’re grounded.”

I almost started stamping my feet.
I don’t need this right now.
“Dad–“

“Don’t ‘Dad’ me. I mean it, Connor. You could have been killed. Your
sister and mother have been worried sick.
I’ve
been worried sick. You’re
done,” he said and stood up. He crossed his arms which told me the discussion was
over.

Or was it?

My rents really liked Jess. I knew I could play the blind card. Especially
if I explained it would only be for our date at the park tomorrow. “Dad, Jess and
I–

“Have all the time in the world to spend together. This isn’t open
for discussion. I’m sure Jessie would agree with me. This is for your own good.
How else are you supposed to learn from your mistakes if you don’t have time to
reflect upon them?”

Oh, no, he didn’t. He went there.

“I promise I’ll think about it at the park tomorrow–"

“End. Of. Discussion. You’re in your room for the night. Don’t even
think about turning the PlayStation on. Tomorrow you’re helping me clean the garage
and the cars.”

I growled in frustration. My parents looked at me funny. I opened my
eyes really wide. I really
did
growl.
Oops.
The growl made me realize
one thing. I was one of the Fallen. I had a few tricks up my sleeve. I didn’t look
my father in the eye. I stared at his forehead. “Dad, I’ve learned my lesson. I
promise I won’t do anything stupid again as long as I live.”

“If you’re sure, I’m good with that.”

“What?” My sister sounded outraged.

“What?” My mother sounded confused.

Dad just smiled like a kid who got a puppy at Christmas.

“Thanks, Dad. Boy, I sure learned my lesson.”

“Good. Hey, you wanna go shoot some hoops?”

“Not tonight, Dad. I’ll catch you tomorrow night though, okay?”

“Sure, son!” He sat down on the couch next to my sister. She looked
like she wanted to slap the stupid out of him.

I gave her a poop eatin’ grin.

Mom looked like she was going to give birth to kittens. “Oh, no you
don’t, mister! You march your butt upstairs right this minute! And you,” she spun
on my dad, “what happened to ‘I’m going to kick his butt?’”

This was going to get ugly, real quick. “Mom, I–“

“Connor,
room!”
She gave me “the look” over her shoulder. I
couldn’t let her kill Dad. I needed him. For allowance.

I looked straight at her. “Mom, I really did learn my lesson. I promise
nothing like that will ever happen again.” I saw the emotions fighting on her face.
“I promise,” I said again and watched her relax. She sat down on the other couch
and smiled.

“Well, I’m convinced. I made some cookies. They’re in the kitchen if
you want one.”

“Thanks, Mom!” I turned to do just that, when my sister started yelling.

“O-M-G, W-T-F? This is
sooo
not happening. He screwed up! You
were both set to ground him until he turned thirty!”

“Caelyn Alyse. I don’t think I care for your tone, and quit talking
in text,” Dad said and crossed his arms.

I laughed all the way to the kitchen.

Chapter 26

“Push me higher!”

I laughed at Jessie. “If I push you any higher, you’re going to fly
off!”

“I don’t care! Right now I feel like I could fly,” she called back
over her shoulder.

“But if I’m behind you, I can’t catch you,” I said quickly as she flew
back for another push.

I watched her kick her legs up as she reached the top of her swing
and as she came down she dragged them along the ground. I grabbed the chains, figuring
she wanted off.

“Thanks,” she said.

She stood and waited for me to come around the swing. I took her hand
and she held me tight. “What do you want to do next?”

“Monkey bars!”

I laughed again. “As you wish.”

“I’m kidding, silly. I’m actually kind of tired. Can we sit for a while?”

I gave her a worried look she couldn’t see, but I spotted an empty
picnic table across the park. “Come on. Follow me.”

I led her through the mulch. She took higher steps to keep it out of
her sandals. How her toes hadn’t frozen off I’d never know.

“Aren’t you cold?”

“No, not really. I’ve got you to keep me warm.”

I didn’t buy it. I was a Fallen and the November winds were making
me
cold. I pulled my arm out of her hands, ignored her squeak of protest,
threw it around her shoulders, and used my other arm to pick her up. “Better?”

“Much,” she said and blushed. Her blush didn’t stop her from burying
her face in my neck as I cradled her. “I’m not too heavy am I?”

“Ha! Watch.” I jumped. She gasped as she felt us leave the ground and
land again. “See, not heavy at all.”

A strange look crossed her face and she shook her head. “I guess not.
Just do me a favor. Don’t do that again.” She kissed me. Her method of persuasion
worked. I vowed silently never to do it again.

“As you wish,” I said again.

“You keep saying that. It sounds familiar…”

“You keep using that word, I don’t think it means what you think it
means!”

“Oh, my God! I loved that movie. I haven’t seen it since I was a little
kid,” she said and sighed.

“It’s my parent’s favorite movie. I’ve probably seen it more than…well
I can’t think of anything right now, but I’ve seen it a whole lot. I could probably
sit down and write out the whole script if I had to.”

“Farmboy, kiss me.”

“As you wish,” I said and did. We had reached the table, but I didn’t
want to let her go. Ever.

Finally, common decency demanded we stop. By common decency I meant
the old lady walking her poodle. She gave me a dirty look when I looked up and went,
“Hehem.”

I think I blushed. “You want to sit?”

“On your lap.”

“Deal.”

We sat down. We didn’t talk. We didn’t laugh. I leaned back against
the table and Jess leaned back against me. I held her for an hour that felt like
days. She fell asleep after twenty minutes, but I didn’t care. I put my cheek against
hers and listened to her breathe and I listened to her heart. Tears rolled down
my cheeks, both of happiness and sadness. I couldn’t have been happier doing anything
else in the world. Not knowing how long I would be able to hold her made my heart
ache.

“I love you,” I whispered in her ear for the very first time.

She smiled in her sleep and said, “Love.”

* * *

“I can’t believe you let me sleep that long!”

We had walked the entire way and were almost back to my house. “Well,
you looked
really
comfortable. I was, too.”