Chloe's Guardian (The Nephilim Redemption Series Book 1) (3 page)

CHAPTER
5

Chloe sat on her hotel bed not packing. Kaitlyn folded her long black skirt and put it next to her yellow sequin dress in her suitcase on the other bed.

“What’re you thinking about?” Kaitlyn asked.

Chloe couldn’t help but let out a deep sigh, even though it felt pathetic. “Todd. I just wish we could talk. He’s so busy. His phone must be dead. It keeps going to voicemail. I’ve left him a million messages.”

Kaitlyn stopped packing, sat next to her, and gave her a side hug. “You were so happy yesterday.”

“I wish I could see that flying glowing thing again. It was incredible. When it touched me, I just knew everything would be okay.”

Kaitlyn dug in her purse and pulled out car keys. She dangled them in front of Chloe.

“How’d you get those?”

“Tricia told me to move the car. She’d parked in a double yellow zone. I haven’t returned them yet.”

“But won’t her mom want them? Her name’s on the lease.”

“She doesn’t care. She got the car for Tricia.”

“You think I could go back to the castle? Look for that
thing
I saw?”

“Maybe it’s still there.”

“But we take off in four hours.”

“It’s not that far away.”

True. It wasn’t. She had to go. Right then. It would be good. “I can drop you off at the airport with my stuff.” She jumped up and started jamming everything into her suitcase. “I should go alone. You can tell everyone I’m coming. I’ll buy you a chai soy latte and a good paperback. I’ll be back in plenty of time.”

“It will be great for you to see it again.” Kaitlyn went back to folding her clothes into her suitcase.

“And I need to get my sandals,” Chloe said as if to justify the idea.

“Those were such cute sandals. It’d be sad to just leave them there.”

Kaitlyn was so cool about everything. Even Todd.

Kaitlyn closed her suitcase, picked up her viola, and said, “I’m ready when you are.”

***

Chloe and Kaitlyn got through security, bought the promised drink and book for Kaitlyn, and happily settled her in the gate seating. Chloe left her carryon with Kaitlyn to speed up her return through security.

“When you see Todd, tell him I’m coming soon. We’ll finally get a chance to talk on the plane.”

She was back on the road to Dunnottar in no time. And it felt right to be going. Her nerves tingled with excitement.

They’d gone to the castle the day before because it once belonged to some dead ancestor on her dad’s side. Her friends planned the trip to keep her mind off Todd. But that was when they thought it was over between them.
Now I know otherwise. We aren’t breaking up.
She just knew it. And the
thing
was a sign. 

It felt like only a few minutes had passed when she pulled into the parking lot about a quarter mile from the incline to the top of Dunnottar Castle. She jumped out of the car and set off for the ruin down the gravelly dirt road. Within a few steps, she broke into a trot, but Kaitlyn’s flip-flops were too small. They hurt between her toes on the way down the incline, then slipped sideways and let little pebbles under her feet going back up the uneven steps to the entryway of the castle. She finally just pulled them off.

When she got to the top, she dashed to the side where she had jumped the day before. Old walls of ruined buildings kept other tourists from seeing her. She took baby steps toward the ledge and balanced there. She closed her eyes and thought hard, willing the
thing
to return. Nothing happened. She scanned the sky. Nothing but squawking gulls floated on invisible breezes. She bent her knees and stood up fast, like she was going to jump, letting her feet leave the ground by at least a half inch.

A chunk of gravel knocked loose and skittered down the cliff making puffs of dust on its way.
It needs to think I’m really going to jump again.
She leaned forward, pressing her chin out. A deep breath. Just tilt far enough—

A huge hand grabbed her arm and anchored her to land.

“Be careful. It is a long way down.”

Embarrassment shamed her first, that she was caught doing something no one would understand. But then she got miffed. What business was it of anyone’s what she did?

She turned and found an incredibly tall Arab-looking guy holding her arm. Trying to shake him off did no good. His hand wouldn’t budge.

“Can I have my arm back?” Her smile was forced, but she didn’t want to cause trouble.

“Certainly. Once you come away from the edge. You could fall.”

“I’m fine.”

He steered her away from the edge anyway. His giant arm was like a crane, moving her whether she wanted to or not.

“Thanks, but really, I don’t need anything. I’m fine.”

“You looked as though you intended to jump. That wouldn’t be good.”

“Well,
that
would be stupid.” She just wanted him to leave her alone. How could she find the
thing
with him there distracting her?
What if he’s preventing it from coming back?
“I’m just looking for my sandals. I left them here yesterday.” It was a lame excuse for being way out on the edge, but no other ideas came fast enough.

“Are these your missing footwear?” He released her arm and held up his other hand. Her sandals dangled from his fingers.

“How’d you—?” It didn’t matter. She just needed him to give them over and leave her alone. She grabbed them off his fingers and hopped around to put them on while he watched. He extended his arm for her to hold on, but she did it without his help. It was silent and awkward. “Well, thanks then,” she said once she stopped bouncing and straightened up. “Have a good day.”

“No need to rush off.”

“I just want to look at the scenery a bit. Kind of want some time to think, you know? By myself. I don’t have much time. Don’t want to keep you. So….”

“Oh, I don’t mind.”

Well, I do!
She couldn’t summon the
thing
with him around.

“I saw you yesterday.”

“You what—where?
Here
?”
Did he see me jump?
“What do you mean?” Her blood rushed with adrenaline, making her heart thump.
Did he see the thing, too?
Could he possibly be standing with such a straight face if he had?
“You saw me?”

She watched him closely for a telling reaction. If he’d seen it, too, maybe he came back to find it again. Maybe he could help her find it.

“With your three friends. You seemed riled.”

That didn’t answer anything. “What was I doing? When you saw me…us.” Did his odd expression mean anything?

“You were playing the tourist, right? And—”

And what
? Could she just straight out ask him? Did he see a glowing, flying being swoop her out of the air? “Did you see anything unusual?”

“I did.”

What did you see
?
her brain screamed but she kept her face as neutral as possible.
“Like?”

Their noses almost touched when he bent down close to her. He smelled like old booze. She backed up, but he spoke so quietly, she had to lean in again to hear.

“I believe you leapt.”

“So you saw what happened!” she blurted out, no longer careful. “You saw
it
?”

“What were you thinking?”

“Never mind that. What about what happened
after
I jumped?”

“After? When you ran screaming for your friends?”

“No, after I jumped, before I went screaming. Did you see it?”
Why won’t he just
say
it?
“The
thing.
”

“The thing. Hmm. You mean the updraft that knocked you down? Your stumble backwards?”

“I did
not
stumble backwards.”

“I was at a great distance. Hard to see clearly, really.”

“So you didn’t see it?” Chloe had so wanted him to say he’d seen it, too. Obviously, he’d missed it. Or wasn’t able to see it. Maybe it was only visible to her. “Never mind.” He needed to go
away.
How could she find it when he was around and he couldn’t even see it? Maybe it would never come as long as she wasn’t alone.

After a deep chuckle, he leaned in closely again, bringing the sour smell with him. “Ah, do you mean the glowing being that actually
flew
through the sky?”

“Yes!” she screamed. His smell didn’t matter anymore. “Yes, then you
did
see it!” She grabbed his massive arms and jumped up and down. “Wasn’t it beautiful?”

“You thought so?” His smile spread wide.

Was he mocking her? She stopped jumping, feeling a little ridiculous to react so intensely when he stood like marble. Embarrassed, she let go of him. “Well, yeah. Didn’t you think so?”

“I’m just curious about your impression. You really thought he was beautiful?”

“Are you kidding? The most beautiful thing I’ve every seen!”

“Truly?”

“Didn’t you think so? I mean, it was
incredible.
”

His perfect teeth glowed white next to his dark skin. Maybe he wasn’t making fun of her.

“I had to come back and find it.”

“It seems to have captured your fancy,” he said.

“That’s why you’re here, too, isn’t it?” Her heart was flopping with the thought someone could confirm for her what she’d seen.

“Jumping again is not a wise idea,” he said.

“Oh, I wasn’t…well, you’re right.” Chloe felt stupid that he’d figured out her plan. And when he said it, it sounded pretty lame. She sat in the grass, facing toward the open sea. “I guess we’ll just have to wait.” The breeze picked up her hair and tossed her curls in her face. She hadn’t taken time to straighten it and the humidity was kinking it up.

He sat down, too. They watched the sky for a while. Then he said, “Are you thirsty?”

“Nah.”
The
thing
was sent to me as a sign.

“Of course you are. When was the last time you had refreshment?”

“Don’t know.  I’m fine.”
It means Todd still wants me.

The zipper of his backpack ticked open. “What would you like? I’ll give it to you. No cost.”

He wasn’t going to give up.
Okay, why not? It might take a while to show up.
“What’ve you got?” Her eyes stayed up on the clouds. If she could just find it again, somehow everything would be better.
Maybe even my parents will be better
.

“What would be your absolute first selection?”

“Water’s fine.” Maybe it meant something, or someone, was watching out for her. Actually
cared
about her.

“Humor me. A little more exciting than that.”

All right already.
The guy sure didn’t seem to be into this after seeing such an incredible sight. Maybe he’d relax if she just let him give her some trail mix or something.

She leaned back to see in his pack but he pulled it away. “You got a lot of choices in there?”

He nodded.

“What I really want is Chick-fil-A and waffle fries. I’m starving. I missed lunch. I wish you had
that
in there.”

His eyes opened wide like he was shocked.

“No way.”

“
Fiat panis
.” He pulled a Chick-fil-A sack out of his pack. “Or more accurately,
Let there be
chicken.”

She grabbed it and opened it up. Hot, thick, fried oil aroma swirled up in the steam. “How’d you know that?” She scooted back next to him.

He shrugged and smiled again.

“Ketchup?” she asked.

“Of course.” He pulled out a bottle of Heinz.

“And honey mustard?”

“Absolutely.”

After he presented a packet of honey mustard, he pulled out a dripping amber bottle of beer. He presented it to her like a waiter holding a wine bottle.

She studied the label. “Too-tank-ham— What’s that?
Egyptian Ale
,” she read. “King Tut beer?”

“Actually, it’s Queen Nefertiti’s recipe. She made a unique brew. They tried to copy it after excavating her brewery. Even though it’s not an exact reproduction, it’s surprisingly close. It’s one of my favorites. The first bottle sold for over seven-thousand dollars. Have one.”

“I can’t.”

“No charge. Not for you today.” He gave her another smile, one like he had practiced it in front of a mirror. “Here, my supply is endless. Take it.”