Rebirth - The Beautiful Fallen (15 page)

             
“I said no.” I said, pushing him away.

             
He just laughed at me.  “All right, all right.  I know.  But I just meant don’t worry so much about all of this.  If the time needs to come sooner, we’ll figure out how to make it happen." he told me.

             
"I don't think so." I replied.

             
Chris didn't seem too worried about my reaction though.  Instead, I just heard him chuckle a little bit.  "All right.  Let's try to again get some sleep." he said, still holding me close.

             
Regardless of all of that, I did feel some comfort being close to him.  In fact, I think a part of me was actually getting used to it.  I was glad that I ended up falling asleep rather quickly after that conversation too.  I really didn’t want to keep thinking about what he told me and allow my mind to wander on such a subject.  As intriguing as that might actually be, it also felt a little dangerous too.

             
I ended up waking from a dreamless sleep to the soft light trying to filter in through the window blinds and blanket.  I was still curled up next to Chris, and the clock read nine thirty.  We’d ended up sleeping in.  Gently, I shook him awake.  “Hey, you know it’s after nine.” I said.

             
Chris slowly opened his eyes, stretching a little.  “You’ve got to be kidding me.” he moaned.

             
“Maybe we should just stay a little while longer.  It was a long night.” I told him softly.  I’ll admit that I really was comfortable now.  Getting up didn’t seem so great.

             
“Yeah, maybe.  I didn’t want to waste this much time, but I don’t think I should drive yet.” Chris admitted, closing his eyes again.

             
“Then let’s just get some more sleep.  I think we could use it.” I whispered, closing my eyes as well.  I curled up against him again and felt myself drifting off.  Yes, this was way too comfortable to get up right now.

             
We ended up sleeping for another two hours before we actually made ourselves get up and ready to leave.  By then, the bright sun was out and everything about the world seemed normal again.  Still, as I stood outside by the car, I couldn’t help but look up at the walls of the motel and search for any sign of that woman I’d seen the night before.  But there was nothing.  Not even marks left in the walls.  It was like she’d never been there at all.

             
“All right.  Let’s get moving.” Chris said as he came back out and unlocked the car.

             
“It doesn’t even look like she was ever even here.” I noted as we got in.

             
“It won’t.  Ones like her always cover their tracks well.” Chris said, pushing the button to start the car.

             
I had to admit, this was an impressive little car.  Everything in it was digital, and the dark seats were very comfortable.  “This is really cool.  Will gave us a nice car.” I admitted.  I quickly skimmed through the radio stations.  This thing even had an XM subscription in the radio.  Note to self:  Remember to thank Will for this later.  At least it was definitely going to be a more comfortable ride now.

             
“I don’t think you can expect anything less from him.  Will’s picky about things like this.  He’ll probably tell me how much he hated driving that motorcycle when I see him again.” Chris replied.

             
I felt myself smile a little at those words.  By then, I was kind of getting the picture of how those two acted around each other.  “So how much longer do you think we’ll have until we make it to Baton Rouge?” I asked as we drove back out onto the highway.

             
“Probably another six or seven hours.  But at least we have this now.  We won’t have to stop anymore at those motels.” Chris said.

             
“Are you sure you’ll be able to drive straight through like that?” I asked him.

             
“Don’t worry about it.  If I get too tired, we’ll just find a rest stop and I’ll get some sleep.  But we need to pick up the pace now.” Chris replied.

             
I couldn’t say that I was that comfortable with that, but I was willing to accept it.  After all, if we kept moving, maybe no more bad things would show up.  Finally tuning in a station that sounded good, I sat back in the seat and tried to make myself to relax.

             
The ride itself was actually fairly quiet.  Watching the passing scenery, I tried to take in the signs as well.  A few times, we stopped for gas and at rest stops, which gave us the opportunity to get out and stretch our legs.  I’ll admit that by then, I’d found myself feeling very comfortable with Chris.  Even in knowing who his father was now, I felt like it really wasn’t that much of a reflection on him.  Yes, he was a bit difficult and stubborn at times, and he certainly didn’t understand all the time about how to treat a girl, but he really seemed like a nice guy at heart.

             
As night fell though, I found myself shifting a little uncomfortably in my seat.  Night brought out bad things.  This I had definitely learned by now.  Beside me, Chris glanced at the car’s clock.  “Looks like we’re going to run late into the night after all.” he said quietly.

             
“Are you sure this is safe?” I had to ask.

             
“Don’t worry about it.  Most things don’t like tangling with cars.  And it’ll give us a little better time to get to Baton Rouge.  I don’t like thinking that those spies might be following or figuring out where we’re headed.” Chris said.

             
“I guess.” I said, leaning back in my seat.  As much as I didn’t really like this, I knew that he had a point.  We had to get to Zane before whatever was looking for us found us.  Taking a deep breath, I thought again about the conversation we’d had the night before.  It really would’ve helped things if my power could just awaken.  But making it do so forcefully just couldn’t be an option. 

             
Right?

             
Yes, of course I was right!

             
Closing my eyes, I forced myself to relax again.  Everything would be okay.  Chris would make sure of that.  But as I thought this, I suddenly heard a soft male voice speak.

             
“Open your eyes my darling.”

             
I opened my eyes, finding myself standing in a large cave like room.  Looking around, I saw that it was lit by many candles.  There was a beautiful bed with a crimson cover lined in gold on it near me, along with various other pieces of old, antique looking furniture.  “Where…where am I?” I questioned.  I couldn’t have been dreaming again, could I?

             
“You’ve finally come to me.” the male voice answered.

             
I turned around to find a man standing behind me.  I stared in surprise at him.  Tall and slender, with dark hair and the bluest eyes I’d ever seen.  “Saffron?” I whispered.

             
Saffron smiled down at me, pulling me close to hug me.  “It’s been so long since I’ve been able to see you.  You certainly have grown up on me.” he said, sounding fairly happy.

             
I honestly wasn’t too sure of what to do then.  On one hand, I was somehow seeing my father again.  But on the other hand, I now understood who and what he was.  And I knew the things he’d done before.  He’d killed people, including the girl who had given birth to me.  I gently pushed myself back from him to look at him completely.  It was so strange as I did.  He didn’t really look like anything more than just a very handsome man.  And yet, I could also see that his eyes just seemed inhuman.  They were far too powerful.  “I’m glad that you apparently missed me, but how did I get here?  Am I sleeping again?” I asked him.

             
“Not really.  Think of it more as an out of body experience.  But it was the best means for me to bring you here now that I’ve regained the ability.  I‘ve been kept here for quite a while in this place.  I suppose you can call it the Purgatory of Hell.  It‘s where they send us when they isolate us for punishment.  It's quite amusing to them to keep us here in solitude.” Saffron replied.

             
So he’d brought me there to him.  I couldn’t say that I was that surprised, considering everything I'd seen up until now.  Still, I wasn’t feeling that happy about our so called family reunion yet.  Especially when I thought about the fact that he’d basically just dragged me into a section of Hell.  “So why did you bring me back here now?  You haven’t seen me since I was a baby.  How would I even know anything about you until now?” I said.  I was actually trying my best not to make him angry though.  Who knew what might happen if I did.  After all, it seemed like Saffron had a reputation for being unpredictable.

             
Saffron just smiled though.  “Ah, I see.  So your memories are still sealed.  Good, the spell has held, even with him showing up.” He noted.

             
“So you really did try to erase my memories?"  I asked in disbelief.

             
“Only of me, and I only sealed them temporarily.  Think of it as more of a protective measure.  But it doesn’t really matter that much now, does it?  Your blood is getting ready to awaken, and you’ve come to the one who was meant to find you.” Saffron said, playing with a long strand of my hair.  A slight smile was playing on his face as he looked at me.  He seemed awful pleased with himself now.  It made me feel really uncomfortable, although I tried hard to keep that in check.  The last thing I needed to show him right now was fear.

             
“So you knew that Chris was going to find me then.” I said, standing very still then.  Of course, I reasoned that he probably must have known about Chris looking for me.  I had the feeling that he knew a lot about what went on with me.

             
Saffron let go of my hair, taking my hand and guiding me over to the old fashioned couch.  I believed that it was what I'd heard someone once refer to as a Fainting Couch a long time ago.  Possibly even Mama.  “Come, sit with me.  It seems we have much to speak of.” he said.

             
I couldn’t say that I was at all comfortable about doing this, but I didn’t see any other choice either.  I was stuck there with him.  And maybe he could give me some of the answers I was looking for.  “You said you knew Chris was going to find me.  Did you plan that with Jade?’ I asked him as we sat down.

             
Saffron gave me that same knowing smile.  “No, not at all.  It’s just something we both knew in the end would be inevitable.  After all, two Dark Nephilims being born so powerful should be meant for one another.  That’s just the way the karmic world works.” he explained.

             
“But I don’t even have my wings yet.  I don’t have anything.” I told him.

             
“Trust me, you will soon enough.  That’s why you're here now.  I may not be able to get out of here yet, but I want the wheels in motion for when I do.  Your current state will not be enough to withstand what he’s going to be sending after you, and I have no expectations of Christoff fighting it completely alone.  For that, we’ll need to force a hand, and make you wake up.” Saffron told me.

             
With that, he reached up swiftly and placed a hand on my forehead.  I felt a surge of warmth go through my body with that touch.  It was like a red hot heat running through my blood.  I quickly jumped back up off of the sofa, gasping at the strange sensations running through me.  “What did you do to me?” I demanded.

             
Saffron quietly stood back up, then walked over and held up my chin so that I’d look at him.  I could feel myself stiffen as I looked into his blue eyes.  I could almost see the red flames dancing deep within his irises.  “Don’t fight it.  It is for your own good.  We just need you to wake up now.  But don’t worry.  Until I can come back to you, I will make sure you’re taken care of.  And your stone will always be your link to me.  I will always be with you.” he promised me.  He leaned down and pressed a kiss to my forehead, then pressed his hand to the middle of my chest.

             
"Now, awaken."

             
I opened my eyes quickly.  I sat very still as the dim lights of the car came into focus, the vision in my mind replaying again and again.  I had no doubt that I’d just been transported, at least in part, to where Saffron currently was.  But I had no idea of what he’d just done to me either.  I could still feel the fire moving through my veins.  What was this?  Whatever it was, it couldn’t have been good…

             
Beside me, I saw Chris tense up in the driver’s seat.  A part of me wondered if he felt the power that was now surging through me.  “He released it.” I heard him whisper.

             
“What’s happening to me?” I whispered back, turning myself to curl up in my seat.  Suddenly, my whole body just hurt.  Especially my back.

             
Chris looked back at the clock in the car.  “We should be able to get there in another two hours if I floor it.  I should have time.  Unless he sped things up.  What the hell was he thinking?  He needed to wait until I got to Zane.” he said, sounding a bit angry now.