Revelations (The Revelations Series Book 1) (7 page)

Erin quickly ushered Jenna into the front seat and then climbed into the back.

“Wait, we’re not going anywhere until one of you tells me what’s going on!” Jenna exclaimed as she reached over, turned the Jeep off and pulled the keys out of the ignition.

“Jenna, honey, I know you have a lot of questions, but now is not the time. We have to get out of here before they find us!” her mom exclaimed.

Jenna turned her attention to Alex who lifted his shirt to reveal a scar on his chest. “I know this is hard for you, but it’s important you know you’re not the only child they’ve captured,” Alex told her. “A few years ago I was walking home with my mom after a basketball game when we were ambushed by two men who shot my mom when she resisted and threw me in a van. I can still see her lying on the sidewalk in pool of her own blood. They brought me to a facility like this one. There they subjected me to all types of tests before I was finally able to escape, but not before I was stabbed by one of them. Luckily, it was only a flesh wound and it healed quickly. When my father managed to get word to me that your mom needed my help, I knew I had no choice. I couldn’t let you go through the torture I did. I had to try to help you. So please give me the keys so we can get out of here.”

Jenna reluctantly handed him the keys. She knew she owed him her life. He had taken the chance of being captured and studied again just to help her.

“So, what do we do now?” Jenna asked as Alex started the jeep, gunned the gas and pulled out onto the road.

“We get as far away from here as we can,” her mom replied. “And start a new life as Erin Jensen and her twins Alex and Jenna. Alex has agreed to stay with us and teach you about your heritage. You look the same age so it shouldn’t be a problem. As long as we stay together we should be safe. I have everything we need to start a new life.

Jenna stared out the window as they drove. She wasn’t sure what the future held for her, but she did know that after what Alex had told her about his time in the compound she would never allow herself to be captured again

THEY
drove for two days before Alex pulled down a dirt road and stopped in front of a small red cottage that was bordered by a dense forest on all sides.

“We’re here,” he announced as he shut the engine off.

Jenna climbed out of the car, stretched and looked at the old two-story house with a wide front porch. If her mom was looking for privacy this was the place. She examined the house, which had definitely seen better days. The front steps were old and rickety and looked like they were ready to fall apart. The paint was chipping off all the window frames and littered the front porch. There were planters attached to the railing, but they were all filled with dead flowers.

Erin walked up beside Jenna and put her arm around her. “I hope you like it. It’s the best I could do on such short notice. With a little work it’ll look good as new in no time.” Erin walked over to the porch and picked some chipped paint off the old the railing. “The owner said he would supply the paint and wood if we wanted to fix it up. We weren’t sure when we would be here so he left the key under the flower pot.” Erin walked over to an old red and white flowerpot, tipped it on its side and grabbed the key up from under it. “Here we go,” she said as she carefully climbed the stairs making sure to stay to the left where they seemed sturdier. She put the key in the old lock and clicked it open.

Jenna bit her lip and followed her mom and Alex up the stairs and into the house. It was a small fully furnished house with a fireplace in the corner. They entered into the living room that smelled of dirty mildew. The carpet was a shade of brown that Jenna guessed was designed to hide dirt and the curtains that hung from the windows looked as if they were homemade. There was a small room just off the living room, and then the kitchen was adjacent to that.

“All we have to do is air the house out and it’ll be perfect.” Erin pulled the window open to let in the warm summer breeze.

Alex walked over to the small room located off the living room. He pushed the door open, its hinges creaking as it slowly opened. He peeked his head in the room and looked around. “I’ll take this room,” he announced. “You girls can have the upper level.”

“Are you sure?” Erin asked. “I’d be more than happy to have the smaller room.”

“No, you and Jenna take the upstairs. I’ll be fine here.”

“Okay, if you insist.” Erin turned back toward the front door. “Let’s get the stuff out of the car then inspect the house to see what we’ll need from town.”

“STOP!”
Jenna screamed her pulse racing. “How can you two act like nothing is wrong? So far, I’ve been in a horrible car crash, been held captive in a facility by people who told me you were dead and wanted to study me. For what, I have no idea. Then Alex comes along and tells me I’m special and that you’re not dead. Then I see him throw a man across the room with nothing but a flick of his wrist.” Jenna folded her arms across her chest. “So
before
we start acting like some kind of normal family, I want to know what the hell is going on. And I want to know
now!”

Erin stopped and looked at Alex as if trying to avoid answering her.

“Don’t look at him, look at me. I’m the one who needs answers, and unless I get them I’m not moving an inch.” Jenna plopped down on the dusty blue and white striped couch and pressed her lips together tight.

“I’ll leave you guys alone to talk,” Alex said as he walked over to the door. “I’ll be outside checking out the property.” He glanced at Jenna, gave her a half-hearted smile then left the house, closing the door behind him.

Jenna’s mom sat down on the couch beside her. “Listen, Jenna,” her mom started. “What I’m about to tell you, you may not believe. But I promise you it’s the truth. I would never lie to you about your father.”

Jenna hesitated. Her mom very rarely spoke of her dad. “My father? What does he have to do with this? Was he some kind of criminal?”

“No, Jenna, just the opposite.” Erin smiled as if remembering a special memory. “He was a good man who did great things and that’s why he was allowed to come back.” Her mom gently touched her cheek.

“Come back?” Jenna asked confused.

“I guess I should start from the beginning.” Her mom took a deep breath in, and then released it. “I met your dad when I was in college. I didn’t have an easy life. I was failing most of my classes and knew that when my parents found out they would insist I drop out and come home.” Erin sighed and lowered her head. “I couldn’t bear the thought of living under the same roof as my dad again. He was abusive towards my mother and me my whole life, so as a way to avoid that I was considering suicide. On the night I had decided to end my life I was walking back to my dorm from my last class. As I got closer to the building I tripped and dropped my books. That’s when a handsome man appeared out of nowhere and helped me up. He introduced himself only as Thomas. He must have seen how upset I was because he refused to leave until I agreed to have coffee with him.

A small gasp escaped Jenna’s lips. “Mom, I never knew…”

Erin grasped Jenna’s hand and squeezed it tight. “And it was something I hoped I would never have to tell you. It’s not something I’m proud of. The more time I spent with him the more I fell in love. But, I could tell he was hiding something from me. He would never talk about his past. Then one day he came to me and told me he needed to tell me the truth about who he really was. That we couldn’t go any further until I knew and had time to decide if it was what I really wanted.”

Confused, Jenna shook her head. “What you really wanted?”

Jenna’s mom took her hand. “You see, Jenna, at times, God sends his angels to earth to help those in need. Your dad saw I was in need of a friend. Someone to show me that life was worth living. What he didn’t mean to happen was for us to fall in love. He knew the moment I told him I loved him that he had to tell me the truth. That the only way we could truly be together was for me to know who he
really
was.”

Strange thoughts began to race through Jenna’s mind as she prepared herself for the worst. The way her mom was talking made her believe her father was some kind of criminal who was looking for forgiveness.

“Mom, just tell me already. Stop delaying,” Jenna exclaimed pulling her hand out of her mother’s grasp. “I have every right to know the whole truth.”

Her mom stared at her for a moment, then took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. “Okay, but you have to keep an open mind. Jenna, honey, your father was… an angel.”

Shock flew through Jenna. “What!” Outraged she jumped up off the couch. “If you didn’t want to tell me the truth then you could have at least made up a better lie.”

“Jenna, it’s the truth. If you are to survive, you need to know the truth about your heritage.” Erin stood up. “Those people kidnapped you because they wanted to study you. There hasn’t been a female Nephilim born in over three centuries and the last one was very powerful. It’s forbidden for an angel to be with a mortal woman. But, we were willing to risk it. It’s when I found out I was pregnant with you that things changed. It’s one thing for an angel to father a child, but when that child is a female, it changes things. He knew he had to hide us and that he would have to leave. There was no way he could stay. The other angels would be able to detect him, but alone we stood a chance. So, to ensure your safety I left, but before I did he gave me this book to give to you when I decided it was time to tell you the truth.” Her mom pulled the old leather bound book out of her purse that Jenna had seen her take out of the attic the day of the accident. “You have to promise to never tell anyone about this book, not even Alex. It must be our secret.” Her mom glanced around as she handed it to her. “The only way to open it is for you to say ‘To thee with love’, and it will only open for you.”

Jenna nodded and stared at her mother, her mind racing.
Can it be true? Am I really… a Nephilim?
“Is Alex one?” she asked sitting back down on the couch.

“Yes, he is. When that man gave you the necklace at the flea market, I knew someone had found out about you, and I had no other choice but to run.

Jenna’s mind was swirling with so many questions she wasn’t sure where to start. “If they were after me, why did they wait until we were on the highway to try to take me?”

Erin sat back down on the couch beside Jenna. “That part I’m not sure of. I’m assuming it was because they needed to make it look like an accident and that we both died in the crash. That way no one would look for us.”

Jenna shook her head. “I don’t understand. They took me so there would have only been one body in the car. How did they think the cops would assume I was with you?”

“When I came to beside the car you were gone and in the car was another teenage girl’s body. They had set the car on fire and left. Alex showed up just in time to save me. He said your father sent him and that he was going to help me get you back. He would then help you learn how to use your abilities so if they ever came for you again you could protect yourself.”

Jenna was trying to understand everything her mom was telling her, but her head was beginning to hurt from all the confusing questions she had.

“Wait… abilities?” Jenna asked. “I don’t have any abilities?”

Jenna’s mom took her hand into hers. “You do, you just don’t know it yet. That week when you were really sick was the beginning of your transformation. Alex will teach you about being a Nephilim and how to use your abilities when they manifest.”

Jenna sat motionless for a few minutes before her mother spoke again.

“I know it’s a lot to take in. Why don’t you go upstairs and pick your room.” Erin gestured towards the stairs. “Alex and I will unload the car while you get some rest and think about what I’ve just told you. We’ll answer any questions you have later.” Her mom hugged her tight and whispered, “I love you.”

Jenna stood up and headed for the stairs. Her mom was right. She did have a lot to think about, and she needed to be alone to do it.

She slowly climbed the stairs. Her whole world was falling apart and she didn’t know what to do about it. She now knew she would never see her friends again, and that her life would never be the same. How could they think she would turn into some kind of special being with abilities? They had to be crazy. She was just Jenna, ordinary Jenna.

At the top of the stairs, she saw three open doors. Two lead to bedrooms and the third to an adjoining bathroom. At this point, she didn’t really care which room she picked. All she wanted was to be alone to think everything over.