Divinity: The Gathering: Book One (52 page)

This time I looked at her as if she’d grown a second head
, or had actually worn a bra today. How could she have missed them? They were dark and unique? Even though he had his police jacket on, they were as plain as day all over the tops of his hands.

“How could you not see them? They were on both o
f his hands.” I told her matter-of-factly.

She thought for a moment, “I didn’t see any ta
ttoos.” She replied quizzically.

I was about to say something else
, but I stopped myself.

That was peculiar. Maybe she hadn’t been loo
king, but I don’t see how she could have missed them especially the way they all ogled him and watched as he handed me his card.

             
I really didn’t feel like conversing with Logan. I was sure she had a hidden agenda, she always did and her mirror image followers were looking on and being nosy, as if this entire banner painting party spread out in front of my apartment door had been specifically planned.

“Maybe it was something else. I thought he had
tattoos,” I lied and shrugged, as I put the key into the lock.

That was definitely unexplainable
.

“Hey, you have Professor Phillips for Civil H
umanities or Philosophy right?” She grinned and then asked.

I looked at her in question, “Philosophy, why?”

She moved in closer as if she was divulging some juicy bit of gossip, but her expression was serious.

“Have you heard?” She whispered.

“Heard what?” I wanted to know now.

“He’s gonna be out for a few months. Word is he tried to commit suicide late yesterday night
, but he’s okay. He’s in the hospital and they’re not sure when he’ll be back.” She then said.

I paled. Tried to commit suicide?

A thousand thoughts ran through my mind at once, all of them being part of what happened to him in his office the other day, and his possession.

Or maybe it had been because of
the bad things in his life in general? After all, someone had attracted the shadow that morning in class to begin with, and I guessed it had been him since it entered him.

Poor Professor Phillips.

Was Logan trying to depress me on purpose? I had a sudden fleeting thought that I didn’t want to think of, but it surfaced immediately anyway.

If being possessed had driven Pr
ofessor Phillips to try to take his own life…would that happen to China too? I mean, she did seem weird this morning and the conversation we had was so unlike her.

I swallowed hard
, not wanting to think about it.

“That’s so sad.” I whispered.

“Yeah I know, it is sad, but at least he didn’t die though. So anyway, are you and China going to the show tonight?” She then asked — switching mood channels in her head, literally.

Didn’t die? Apparently she missed the point; snot nosed bitch, I thought to myself.

I knew there was something I could never stand about her.

I suddenly smiled and opened my apar
tment door, and then turned back around to face her once I stepped inside.

“No, actually I have a date tonight with Of
ficer Black, I mean Cam and no — we won’t be at the concert,” I smiled big this time, as I shut the door in her surprised face.

XVII: Cam`ael:

I
still couldn’t quite believe what Berith had just revealed to me, and even more so that she had been telling some truth after all and now, she might be gone forever.

I took some time to digest the revelation before summoning Edanai first.

Though a part of me remained elated, the other half was confused. Confused as to why Elohim had allowed me to meet and interact with Star, because after all, he knew exactly what he had given her and what she would soon become. Well, technically I had every freedom to meet her of my own choosing, but since she was a chosen, I wanted permission just in case — old habits die hard.

Edanai and most of the others in my legion now, ha
d been created long after me, Rahab and even Drakael, so they didn’t know the complete short history of all that took place before their own existences. Rahab and I had been created shortly after Morning Star, who had been the first angel before any and all others.

Eve had been his first obsession
, and when he couldn’t have her he turned to deceive and hurt her and what she loved most. It broke my spirit and my heart to see her being punished, having to suffer for his deception, and not being able to intervene. I was not allowed to. It had been both her and Adam’s free will, and that was when the first rules and laws of interference had been established, despite the fact that there were those including myself that had fallen already. We all abided by those set rules because Elohim has always and will always be, omnipotent over all beings.

Ever since then, Morning Star and I had always been rivals
, on the cusp of remaining associating enemies. I knew he hated me as much as I hated him, but he also wanted me in his favor, and on his side for the light that only I was allowed to keep. It was his only access to the things he wanted, but could not touch, like Star. He picked up and zoned in on her aura, swift and quick, like a starving hawk would on a field mouse in a dense wheat field at night.

I had fallen in love with Eve too
, and I wanted nothing more than to protect her from Morning Star, and though that very action had cost me dearly, it never changed my feelings for her even though she had a mate, a husband. It hadn’t been the act of simply falling in love with her that caused me to fall; she had only been one of two human beings on the entire face of the earth at the time. Favoritism wouldn’t have been a circumstance then. I had taken on the image of her husband Adam in order to lie down with her, but I never got the chance. I was summoned and cast down immediately, and then completely shut out of heaven for my actions as all the other fallen were. Rahab followed not that long after my fall, but his sin hadn’t been the same.

My initial attempt with Eve had created an insatiable desire of lust within me for the scent and flesh of human f
emales, and I gave into that lust repeatedly, during my time on Earth. That was when I had been given this flesh, a desirable and handsome male, a sexual tool for women to use as part of that punishment. Never knowing, or having anything past physical pleasure.

I had always been too ashamed and embarrassed to tell Edanai the truth
, even though she told me what had gotten her cast out, so I made something up. She would be both hurt and furious if I told her the truth now after all this time. Rahab had known, and he kept it secret as mine to tell, which was why he was such a good friend and has always been to me.

I would do it all over if Eve had needed me again then
, and now. I felt as if somehow and in some way after a thousand years, that it all had come full circle once again. Had Elohim cleverly done this when he knew Morning Star would try to claim Star for his own? Had he given Star the exact same aura to test us both again? It didn’t matter, I wouldn’t let her get away from me or allow Morning Star to have her.

Star was mine and would always be mine for as long as I could hold a thought and memory. Chosen or not
, even if it would be for one night only, I would make it one memorable night; which would ironically end with us dying together…like two star-crossed lovers in a ridiculous romance novel.

             
Had this been the gift the angels told me he had given me? Another chance? A chance to have what I so greatly wanted so very long ago at one time, and paid the ultimate price for? No, not if she was going to be a divine warrior, which would just be another cruelty, not a gift.

I didn’t know what to think and I supposed none of it mattered now. Star was a uniqu
e and completely different girl, I found that out from past observation and by simply being with and talking to her.

There had to be another reason her aura matched that of Eve’s. Apparently, this other rogue legion also knew the same, which meant it was being led by an original angel who had exis
ted at the time all of this went down. Why didn’t his name ring a bell though? Had he changed it, maybe?

             
Edanai ghosted in, already perched on the couch in a cross legged manner with a smirk on her tanned oval face.

“I was actually about to summon you when you rang,” Edanai joked first.

“I take it you’ve met her then?” I answered.

I had set a
teapot to boil on the stove to make a mixture of chamomile and passion flower tea.

Tea calmed me mentally and physically
, and I needed it right now.

Edanai hopped off the couch and joined me in the kitchen, hopping up on the kitchen counter before she spoke.

“Yeah I met her, I see why you’re enthralled, she’s beautiful, but she’s definitely scary.” She told me and laughed a bit.

I looked up at her in question.

“What do you mean scary?” I asked her.

“She scares easily. I put a tarantula on her just to see her reaction, nothing dangerous. Typical girly type
, but that’s what you’re attracted to I suppose, and you were right. She could sense me, and I think she was afraid because she was rushing to leave the laundry place shortly after I started talking to her.” Edanai explained and teased.

             
I pursed my lips and shook my head. Leave it to Edanai to do something like that. I should have known.

“Don’t mess with her like that. Did you introduce yourself?” I told her firmly
, and then asked.

She looked surprised at my protectiveness and then smirked again, “Sorry. I tried to but she rea
lly wanted to get out of there, oh well. I can’t believe you gave her one of your feathers and you still stand before me.” She then said.

“How did you know that?” I asked her curiously.

She gave me a playful scolding look, “She had it with her, on the inside of her jacket.” Edanai then said.

That bit of news actually made me smile, “She did?”

“I wouldn’t lie to you about that. You really know how to skirt the borderline of the rules Cam. Let’s see… the feather, she’s seen your tattoos, you’re this tall, dark, mysterious and gorgeous guy… she’s gonna figure it all out eventually, but I guess you already knew that,” She smiled.

“She may call out Drakael before she’ll figure me out.” I said with a smirk.

She opened her mouth in surprise and gasped, “What makes you think that?” She wanted to know, as if it were juicy gossip.

“I know the look and how it starts
, plus he’s been healing her.” I then said.

             
Edanai nodded, still stunned that I would say that in regards to Drakael, but she knew exactly what I meant and what I was referring to.

“Healing her? How is that fair?” Edanai replied.

“He says he had permission, but I doubt that included having lunch with her and discussing the finer points of how to spot and avoid a demon,” I clarified.

Edanai ra
ised both brows, “What? Uh-oh — shame on Drakael,” She then clucked her tongue.

“Well, he can’t say he didn’t know or he wasn’t warned. Maybe I’ll get another chance to talk to her tonight.” She then said.

“Maybe,” I replied.

She looked at me and paused.

Edanai always knew when something was bothering me, and she waited for me to speak, but I didn’t.

“What’s wrong Cam? What happened?” Her face was serious now.

              I produced two, plain white porcelain cups with saucers, a small bowl of mint leaves, sugar and cream. I then put the tea leaves in the bottom of each cup, and proceeded to pour the hot water into each one, allowing them to steep. I heard Edanai sigh at my silence, and the taking of my time before I spoke, but I didn’t begin until I had finished preparing my tea the way I liked it, with a hint of mint and cream.

“I summoned Berith not long ago
, and she was just here,” I said blowing at the steam before taking a sip.

I saw Edanai narrow her amethyst eyes at me
, and an instant annoyance flashed a spark in them, “I thought I caught a whiff of decayed funk in here. Are you kidding me? How could you Cam? Where did she go? What did she say?” Edanai rattled off.

I pursed my lips, “Don’t worry, you may not be seeing her for a while or at all for that matter a
nymore,” I then told her.