Secret Worlds (342 page)

“Nice to meet you,” she said and received nods in response. Raven’s squint was less pronounced when she viewed Naomi, but it was there.

“She has the same aura?” I asked and Raven glanced in my general direction, but her gaze was averted toward the ground.

“No. It reminds me a little of CJ’s aura.”

I caught Naomi’s gaze. “Michael’s grace,” we both said at the same time. That was the only logical explanation I could conceive. The grace of an archangel must be glaring.

CJ turned and stood. “I’m CJ,” he said, finishing the introductions.

Naomi’s eyes widened, flashing between my doppelganger and me. She let out a nervous laugh. “You two could be twins,” she said.

A moment passed where their eyes locked, and then he offered her his seat. The blatant interest painted on his face sent a burning irritation through my core, landing in my stomach and churning like a time bomb. He glanced at me and raised an eyebrow and for the first time in over a millennium, I tasted the bitter pill of jealousy.

He returned his gaze to Naomi. “Can I get you some pizza?” he asked and Naomi nodded, still staring at him in a way that burned my insides.

Silence blanketed the room and Steve’s brow creased as he glanced at me. A smirk appeared on his face and he slid his glance to his wife, sharing a silent communication that I was not privy to. By the sudden appearance and suppression of a smile, I guessed he was broadcasting my discomfort with their son’s chivalrous behavior.

Naomi’s gaze followed him and I set my drink on the table and stood.

“I need some air,” I said and turned without explaining. The chill slapped at me as I stepped out of the sliding glass doors into the back yard. The cold Atlantic beckoned in the distance and I crossed the expanse of yard to a quaint rock wall that separated the yard from a fifteen-foot drop into the ocean.

I shoved my hands into my pockets and scanned the vastness before me.

A few minutes passed and despite the frigid breeze, I remained in my spot, trying to isolate why I was suddenly feeling so insecure about Naomi. She was bound to me by marriage and blood, and yet, I was afraid that she’d run to the nearest man with an honest and pure heart.

“You really have nothing to worry about,” CJ said, stepping next to me. “Your wife loves you.”

I glanced at him and then back at the water. “I know she does, but I’ve never had any competition before,” I admitted, knowing he was privy to my train of thought.

He chuckled in a way that pulled my attention to him.

“I didn’t think it was a competition,” he said.

“So you’re not interested in Naomi,” I stated, hoping to put my mind at ease. I glanced back at the sunset painting the clouds, turning everything the purple-pink of twilight.

Silence drifted between us and I turned toward him, meeting his gaze.

“No comment?” I asked and he gave me the kind of smile that I always equated with Lucifer; cocky and certain that he held the winning hand. I clenched my teeth, sending a glare at him.

“Look, if this was a competition, you would lose. But it isn’t, so just fucking relax, will ya?”

“I wouldn’t lose.” I crossed my arms and scanned the sea once more before trudging back into the warm house. Naomi looked up from the kitchen table where Jennifer sat with her. She tilted her head, questioning me without words and I shrugged. She didn’t need to know just how unhinged I was right now.

“Where’d everyone go?” I asked, sliding into the seat next to her.

“Steve went to change and Tom and Raven decided to catch a movie in Portsmouth,” Jennifer said and we all glanced as CJ stepped inside and took a seat on the couch. “Are you really as old as Steve says?”

“I’m twenty-five,” I said. “Of course, I’ve been twenty-five for over two thousand years, but, who’s counting”

She glanced at Naomi for confirmation and got a nod in return. When her gaze landed back on me, she asked, “Did you have a chance to meet Jesus?”

I laughed. “I’ve met a lot of people, ma’am, and yes; the messiah was one of them.”

“What was he like?”

“Interesting. He had a lot of good ideas, and an honest heart. Of course, I had already been introduced to Michael and angel bloodlines, so the idea of God’s child wasn’t as farfetched as some people thought.” I glanced at Naomi. “I can tell you this much though, he has got to be livid that so many acts of violence have been perpetrated in his name. He was a peaceful man, but had no tolerance for those who skewed the word of the Lord for their own gain.”

Jennifer looked down at her hands. “And heaven?”

When her gaze returned to mine, I knew where she was going with the questions. Even with the existence of a guardian angel looking over her husband, she still had doubts and worries about where her children’s souls were. I sent her a soft smile and a nod. “Yes. There’s a heaven,” I said, and the relief swept over her face. “And I’m sure your daughters are there.”

Jennifer blinked her tears back and gave me a quick nod.

Naomi watched the exchange, her brow furrowing with questions and I shook my head. She let it go and focused back on the conversation, but I could tell she understood. She blinked, studying the woman at the table with the same admiration as I felt for both Jennifer and Steve.

“What was your favorite era?” Jennifer asked.

My gaze moved to Naomi. “Right now,” I said with no hesitation.

A snort from the couch pulled my attention and CJ sent a glance over his shoulder, his derision snaking over me like a hangman’s noose.

I knew it was poor manners but I shot the question out anyway, “What the hell is your issue?”

CJ stood, turning toward me. “You. You’re my issue,” he pointed at me. “They think you’re something special, but all I see is someone who killed for sport like my father did. But in this case, you did it for centuries, upon centuries.”

“Damian didn’t kill for sport,” Naomi said before I could form a response.

CJ challenged her with an arch of his eyebrow.

“He’s right,” I said, pulling her gaze to mine. “I killed with abandon, but I only killed those worthy of death. So in that way, I differ from your father.”

“Who are you to judge,” CJ said and I stood, crossing the distance, extending my hand.

“Go ahead,” I challenged, knowing he had the same power to siphon memories as Steve.

He looked at my hand and the muscles in his jaw jumped. When his gaze locked on mine, he reached out. The moment skin contacted a rush of memories assaulted me. Sound swirled around me and a power I couldn’t comprehend gripped every muscle. CJ’s memories flooded my mind, just like Steve’s had, but there was something else that came with them that hadn’t been transferred when Steve did his mind meld.

Just before his grip loosened, I felt the power crawling back into its host and the room came into clear view. In my mind’s eye, I reached out, grabbing hold of the last ribbon of magic, feeling a piece tear off and settle inside me.

CJ’s gaze hardened and he yanked his hand from my grip. He stepped back, rubbing his palm, just staring at me. He looked down at his hand and back, like I was still the shadow being, his silence just as unnerving as the flurry of memories.

Whispers, like faint echoes caressed my ears but I kept my gaze on CJ, waiting for his judgment. Instead of speaking, he slowly lowered to the couch.

He licked his lips, formulating broken thoughts before speaking.

“You really are an angel’s descendent.” It wasn’t a question, just a statement that I let hang on the air for a full beat.

“Do you think I’d really spend the last few hours bullshitting you?”

“Actually, that’s exactly what I thought. I couldn’t read much from either of you.” He glanced between Naomi and I. “I just thought you were here to pull one over on us and you somehow snowed Uncle Steve. I couldn’t figure out what your deal was.”

“And now?”

“At least I know you’re not a liar,” he said.

Naomi offered me a tired smile as I sat down on the edge of the bed.

“I’m not tired,” I said and brushed the hair from her face before planting a soft kiss on her lips. The whispers continued and I shook my head, wondering just what the hell I was hearing. “Do you hear anything funny?”

She shook her head. “Why?”

“Because, I feel like I’m in a theater and everyone is whispering.”

Naomi let out a little laugh and I could have sworn she said,
you’re so weird sometimes
, but her lips never moved. Still, it was her voice in my head and I studied her.

“I’m not weird,” I said, testing the waters and her eyes widened.

Holy shit, you can hear me?

I started laughing. It had been a couple of months since I could hear her in my head and I missed being able to read her. On the heels of realizing I could hear her thoughts; I realized the buzz I was hearing were the random thoughts of the others in the household. My smile faded and I glanced at the door.

“I think I may have transferred a bit of CJ’s talent when we shook hands,” I said and brought my gaze back to hers. If I’d pulled in a little of his mind reading ability...

Before I could complete the thought, a knock on the bedroom door interrupted us.

“Come in,” I called and stood, half-expecting CJ.

When Steve pushed open the door, I met his stare.

“We need to talk,” he said.

I nodded and turned to Naomi. “I’ll be up in a while,” I said and headed out of the room, meeting his gaze as I closed the door.

“CJ thinks you may have gotten some of his shine.”

“That’s what you’re calling it?” I asked, avoiding the question.

“Stop being such a cocky son of a bitch,” he snapped and turned, expecting me to follow. He stopped at the top of the stairs and I got a hint of frustration. He wasn’t able to read me or command me like a normal human, the transfer of memories had been incidental, something he hadn’t intended, especially after ordering me to give him my gun and I didn’t comply.

Now he was even more wary of me and instead of pushing his buttons and taking advantage of his hostility, I followed him downstairs where CJ sat flipping through the television channels.

He tossed the remote onto the table and glared at me.

I didn’t give you permission to take any of my juice,
he thought and I shrugged.

“Look, I didn’t plan on it either,” I said, taking the seat on the opposite couch.

“How did you do that?” Steve asked.

“Honestly, I’m not sure. I felt the infusion of power when we shook hands and when it started to retreat, I guess I grabbed onto a piece of it.”

They exchanged a glance and I took a minute to study their histories. Steve had done something similar, but in his case, it was the full absorption of power and it wasn’t something he consciously chose to do.

When I refocused on the two of them, I had no more answers than they did.

“Maybe it’s the angel’s grace. Michael had said I had his and Naomi assumes I also have my father’s, so it could be... disrupting the natural order,” I said.

CJ burst out laughing. “Disrupting the natural order? Dude, your entire existence disrupts the natural order. We’ve dealt with a lot in our lifetimes, but the existence of vampires and demons and hellhounds and Lucifer isn’t anything we’re equipped to deal with.”

“CJ,” Steve said, his concentration focused on the back yard. “I’ve had to alter my beliefs more than once during my lifetime. This is just another window that’s opened up. A god-awful one, but if we sit in denial and turn our backs on Damian, we’re setting up the end of days.” He turned from the glass.

CJ sent a glare in his direction.

“We’ve dealt with angels and ghosts, along with some of the most evil bastards on earth, so what’s a few more.”

“All due respect, but after tonight, Naomi and I will find somewhere else to go.”

“Why?” Steve asked.

“Look closely at my memories, the ones with Lucifer,” I said, moving my gaze between the two of them, waiting as they did as I asked.

CJ blanched a little, but Steve just sighed and refocused on me.

“So?” he said.

“I was no match for him even in shadow form, so how do you expect to beat him?”

CJ stood and put his hand out, his mind commanding me to fly into the wall. Nothing happened and his face turned red with effort. He dropped his arm to his side, his eyes going wide as he stared at me.
Jesus, you took it all.

“I didn’t. Try moving something else,” I said.

He glanced at the coffee table and it rose off the ground. The relief in his face made me smile. Then he turned his gaze to me.

“Are you consciously trying to stop me?” he asked, trying to dissect why his powers didn’t work on me.

“No,” I said and thought about it. “I mean I heard the command and felt what I would categorize as a breeze, but nothing like what you envisioned in your head.” I shifted my gaze to Steve. “When you demanded the gun, I did feel compelled to give it to you, so that was a conscious choice to ignore your request.”

“So you’re immune,” Steve ventured and traded a glance with CJ.

“If I’m immune, you can bet your ass Lucifer is too.”

“I’m not so sure. I’ve pulled Ty back down to the earth,” Steve said, triggering that memory.

“He’s not an archangel, is he?”

“No,” Ty’s voice boomed in the quiet room.

“Then we can’t assume your influence or powers or whatever you call it, will affect him in anyway. I’d rather err on the side of caution and assume that it can’t. If I’m wrong, then it will be a pleasant surprise for all of us, but if I’m right, at least we’ll be prepared with something else up our sleeves,” I said.

“What about trying to trap him,” Steve asked and even his guardian angel laughed.

“No. I don’t want him within a hundred miles of Naomi.”

The garage door swung open and the chill pulled my attention away from the conversation. Tom and Raven stood just beyond the door and they were not alone. The terror in their eyes pulled the air from my lungs; and when two demons stepped through the door holding knives to their throats, the horror of coming here slammed home.