Feathers (18 page)

             
“You know I don’t like this Mia.  Even if you did change, he’s still dangerous.” Raziel said quietly as we stood there.

             
“I know you don’t think that Raziel.  If you did, you wouldn’t be giving him this chance.  And he did save my life.” I replied.

             
Raziel sighed, glancing back over at Sean, who was waiting by his Jeep patiently.  “Just listen.  If anything happens, fly away from there.  It’s not just Sean you’d have to worry about.  Sometimes things just show up too.  And he’s only a half breed.  I’m holding him to protecting you, but there’s only so much he can do in the end too.” He explained.

             
“You sound like you really know now.” I noted.

             
“Call it having a dad who knows most of it.  And really, we’re more powerful then him too.  I don’t think Sean’s up to something now, but after all of this, I just want to be safe.  Please, just use that pretty little head that God gave you.” Raziel said.

             
“Wow, thanks.  You’re calling me a moron.” I said, rolling my eyes.  These exchanges were very normal between the two of us.  It actually broke the ice a little.

             
Raziel smiled, laughing slightly.  “I know how you get.  And I know what you’ve been thinking.  Just be careful, okay?” he said, patting my head playfully.

             
“I will.  I’ll give you a call when I get back.” I promised.

             
It was shortly after that when I dropped my car off at my house and hopped in the Jeep with Sean.  To say I wasn’t a little nervous would’ve been a big lie.  But I was trying hard to keep myself in check.  I was getting my wish now. Hopefully all would go well for a first real date.

             
“I guess Raziel trusts me more then he wants to admit.” Sean commented as he backed the Jeep out.

             
“Just give him some time.  I think he’s just nervous about everything that’s been happening.” I told him.

             
“It certainly has been active for him since you came to live here.  Although I’ll admit I was a little surprised myself that first day.  I’d heard that you only came here during the summer.  And hearing that your mother and grandmother had basically kicked you out was pretty surprising for me to hear as well.” Sean asked.

             
I looked down, suddenly feel the embarrassment hit.  Of course that would be brought up again.  I knew that I couldn’t change things, but I’d admit that it still bothered me, even in knowing some of the truth now.  “I know.  But nothing can change that now.  And maybe it was a good thing in the end.” I said.

             
“I see.  I’m sorry if I’ve hit a sore spot.” Sean apologized.

             
“It’s okay.  Mom wasn’t exactly that good with me anyways.  She had a lot of problems.” I told him.  I shivered a little as I remembered some things before I’d been able to see Michael again.  There were things I’d never told him about how Mom was down there.  Even my grandmother feared her a little.  Mom hadn’t been right for a long time. A part of me often wondered if maybe, just maybe, Grand mom was saving my life when she’d suddenly thrown me out.  Maybe she feared what Mom would really do once I got my wings.  Even if she didn’t like me, she’d try to save what family she had left from the law being involved.  That much I knew.

             
I tried not to think about it too much though.  I’d tried to call my mother several months before, but had gotten no answer.  I’d done my part for now.  I needed to focus on where I was, and who I was finally getting to be with.

             
The restaurant itself wasn’t too crowded, and the two of us took seats near the window.  Our dinner actually went by very nicely.  I was learning a lot about Sean in that time.  And the thing was, we actually felt normal.  I liked having that feeling.  I don’t think I’d ever had it much in my life.

             
Afterwards, we got back into the Jeep and headed out to where Sean said he wanted to take me.  It turned out to be a place in the woods near his house.  To my surprise, I got the distinct feeling that there was something else out there.  Sean parked the Jeep and looked around.  “It’s okay.  It’s just an old friend.” He assured me as he hopped out and came over to my door.

             
“An old friend?” I asked as he helped me out.

             
“Yes.  He must have stayed around because he got curious.  Don’t worry.  He’d never think of harming you.” Sean promised.  I saw him look over at the nearby bushes.  “You really must have been curious after all, Manake.”

             
At that, a large black fox that looked the size of a man came out.  He had golden eyes, and seemed to regard us quietly for a moment.  “I was wondering if you’d show up with your company today.” He commented thru telepathy.  His voice sounded very old and wise.  I also noted that he had multiple tails.

             
“This is Manake.  He’s an old friend of my father’s.  Manake, this is Mia Renaldi.  She’s Michael’s daughter, and the one I’ve told you about.” Sean introduced us.

             
“Nice to meet you.” I managed.  I was still in a bit of shock at seeing another fox, and more then likely a full blooded one at that.  He felt like he was pretty powerful.  Score one for being a Nephilim now.

             
“Charmed, my dear.” Manake said.  He got up and moved over to the edge of the woods.  “My apologies, but I need to get back now.  I’ve meandered long enough.  But I am happy to see the one who seems to have finally reigned in the renegade here.  Perhaps we can speak more another time.  I’ll look forward to that.”

             
With that, he disappeared back into the woods.  I looked up at Sean as I stood beside him.  “Where’s he going?” I asked.

             
“He’s going back home for now.  Manake has his own to take care of, but he enjoys getting away and visiting with me whenever he can anymore.  He’s actually an elder when it comes down to it.” Sean explained.  He quietly reached over and took my hand.  “Come on.  Let’s go.”

             
I followed him down a hidden path.  “So where are we going anyways?  You still haven’t told me.” I said.

             
“It’s a surprise.” Sean replied, smiling at me.

             
I felt my heart beat a little harder with that smile.  He really did look happy now.  In fact, he’d seemed so happy in the last two hours that I was beginning to wonder if he was the same guy I’d thought I’d come to know.  But when I really thought about it, I’d seen this before too.  Back at the Prom.  Sean had been in a very good mood that night.  He’d claimed it was because he was able to be with me.  I blushed a little to myself.  I hadn’t dared think that he really loved me like he was claiming, but I knew that a lot of proof was there.

             
We ended up coming to a hidden clearing.  I was amazed at what I saw.  It was very beautiful there.  The late afternoon sunlight filtered through the tops of the trees, illuminating the soft grasses below.  “This is beautiful.” I heard myself say as we stepped out there.

             
“I’m glad you like it.  This is my secret place.  I come here often when I want time for myself.  Actually, I believe you are the first other to ever step foot here.” Sean admitted.  He walked over and quietly picked up a small branch that had fallen off of a nearby tree.  To my surprise, it suddenly transformed into a large red rose.

             
“How did you…?” I started as he handed it to me.

             
“I have a talent for manipulating matter.  It’s a fox trait really.  That was how I was able to get past your father’s security systems before.  I also use it with things such as plants to transform them into the kinds I want.” Sean explained.

             
“I see.” I said.  I couldn’t help but smile down at the beautiful rose in my hands.  What an amazing gift he had to make something this beautiful. 

             
The two of us took a seat under a large willow tree near there.  “So tell me Sean, why did you bring me here?  Is it because you wanted me to see this?” I asked, still playing with the rose.

             
“Somewhat.  But I also thought it would be appropriate to allow you to see some of what my world looks like.  Like I said, I’ve never really been a bad person, or whatever I’m supposed to be.  And I’m very grateful to you for what you did back then, though I wish it had been more of will then of desperation.  I’ve never really been proud to be me, but ever since the day you came here, it’s felt like the meaning returned.” Sean explained.

             
“What do you mean?” I asked, not getting that one.

             
Sean just laughed slightly.  “I’m sorry.  I suppose I am speaking in riddles now.  Forgive me.  Sometimes I just find it hard to be what they’d call blunt when it comes to you.” He replied.

             
There it was.  That elegant way of speaking that he was so good at.  One would not have thought that Sean was only sixteen.  In fact, I found it hard to believe myself.  “Are you sure you’re only sixteen?  Most guys I know don’t talk like you do.” I commented.

             
“I know.” Sean laughed.  “I guess it’s a bad habit I picked up early in life.  I am sixteen, but I had a father who was thousands of years old by the time I was born.  I suppose I naturally took to his way of speaking in the end.”

             
“It’s pretty eloquent.” I admitted.

             
“Tell me something Mia.  You have never met any other Nephilims before?” Sean asked.

             
I shook my head.  “No.  I didn’t even know I was one until you came along.  Why?” I told him.

             
Sean looked puzzled for a moment.  “It surprises me, that’s all.  I’ve traveled with Manake since my father’s death, and I had always heard that there were the three clans.  Yet, the only we have ever seen has been the Renaldis as well.  And there was not a Pure with them.  It’s odd.” He finally said.

             
That was right.  Michael and Raphael had mentioned that before.  But they’d never met them either, nor had they met the angel who started all of this.  “Do you think we’re bad?” I couldn’t help but ask.

             
“Of course not.” Sean replied.  “In all honesty, a lot of culture is very wrong with many things.  You and your family are the only Nephilims that all of the foxes I’ve known have ever met.  There were none before, and there will be no more then the three clans, according to the ones who know what they’re talking about.  There was a reason you and your family were created, but it was a good one.  I can promise you that.”

             
I took his words to heart.  I never wanted to believe that my father or any of my family were bad, no matter what they mother and grandmother may have believed.  But it still hurt too.  I pulled my knees up and sighed.  “My mother… you asked me that night why I was kicked out.  She used to try to hurt me at times.  And my grandmother never really cared about me anyways, though she’d stop her if things got too bad.” I confessed.

             
I felt him tense up, beings he was sitting so close to me.  “What?” he whispered.

             
“I never told Michael or anyone else.  Even though my grandmother didn’t like me that much, a lot of times she ended up protecting me.  She locked me in my room sometimes when I was little because of my mother.  And sometimes now, I think this was part of the reason why she forced me to go back to Michael.  She got scared when she realized what was going to happen to me.  And even though I thought I blamed her, a part of me really doesn’t now.  I feel like she was doing what she thought was the right thing.” I went on.

             
For a few long moments, it was very quiet.  But then, I felt Sean sit behind me and hold me close.  “You suffered for a long time alone, didn’t you?” he asked softly.

             
I nodded slightly.  “It wasn’t her fault.  She was so sick.  It was my fault she was so sick.” I whispered.

             
“It wasn’t your fault.  Sometimes… people just are as they are.  I don’t exactly know what it’s like to have that happen, but I can try to understand.”  Sean said.

             
“You won’t tell them, right?  You won’t tell them what I’ve told you.” I pleaded, looking up at him.

             
“Of course not.  It is not in me to do so, and I won’t betray your trust.  I promised that I’d be here for you, and I’ll keep it forever.” Sean said, giving me a soft smile.

             
I couldn’t help but smile back as I turned and hugged him.  “You do care about me, right?  It’s not just because of what I did?” I asked.

             
“No.  I care about you.  I cared before, and it’s only grown since then.  I told you before that I’d give my life for you, and I meant it.  I’m happy when I’m with you, and that’s all that matters to me.” Sean reassured me.