Revelations Coming (The Dark Truth Novel Series) (3 page)

“Please come on inside,” she said stepping aside and letting the two in.

Reggie bent his head and kissed Sheila again lightly on the lips.

“Thank you babe,” he said softly so Venus would not hear.

Sheila nodded far away in her own thoughts and pushed him ahead of her. Sheila knew when she touched the girl that in many ways they were kindred spirits. She could feel her pain, her tortured soul, those awful memories. Sheila didn't know details but she could just sense it. Of course, she had quite the extensive background on painful childhoods to know the signs...eyes cast down, shoulders slightly hunched, hands clenched in fists so tight that she would have the crescent imprints of her fingernails in the palm of her hands. Sheila knew because she had been there before. She had gone through those same types of memories until one day she met Reggie, and didn’t have to be afraid anymore. When Venus looked into her eyes, Sheila saw a faint spark of hope. Whatever Venus had gone through, it had not destroyed her. There was still life in her, a strong will to live. A sudden foreboding swamped Sheila as she sensed that there was still more misery to come before Venus could find happiness. Sheila buried that piece of knowledge within herself and ushered Venus inside.

They sat down at the kitchen table and Sheila bustled around the kitchen pouring already made coffee in generous mugs.

“So Venus,” Sheila started as she said down at the table, her hands warmed around the heated ceramic mug. “Where ya from?”

“Montana...nowhere specific really.”

Sheila noted how Venus' hands tightened around the coffee mug and how she tried to feign indifference when she looked up, smiled and shrugged.

“We've been up to Glacier National Park a few times, haven't we babe? It's just plain gorgeous.”

Venus smiled at the honest and simple conversation and the way Sheila fought an internal struggle to remain the same with Venus.

“The kids should be home from school soon. We have a daughter who looks to be about your age. Christa is 17 and Toby is 15.”
“Yep, I'm 18. I graduated a year early though.”

Reggie chuckled. “Maybe we can enlist Venus as a tutor then!”

Venus smiled at the thought and felt her insides grow warm at the thought of being part of their family.

The “kids” showed up not too much later. The girl, Christa, burst through the door first with dark curly hair like her father and a bronzed tan from the desert sun. She was pretty.

“Toby you better get that trash out of my car!” she screamed towards the door. When she entered the kitchen Christa's mouth dropped open and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment at the outburst.

“Hey Dad!” she squealed jumping into his arms, forgetting her moment of unease. Venus watched them hungrily, feeling the tugging at her heart of how this was how it should be. Reggie planted a kiss on her forehead and turned her so she was facing Venus.

“Christa, this is Venus. She's going to be staying here a while and helping your mother out.”

Christa smiled timidly and extended a hand out in greeting. Venus' face relaxed into a smile and took the girl's hand in her own. “Nice to meet you Christa,” she said softly.

“How old are you?” Christa asked.

“Eighteen.”

With that fact out of the way, Christa grabbed Venus by the arm and dragged Venus to her room. Reggie and Sheila burst out laughing. A boy walked into the house and Venus stole a glance at him before Christa dragged her down the hallway. He too, took his father's coloring and indeed had a lot of potential. His eyes met hers and his mouth formed a little O and he dropped whatever trash was in his hands on the floor. Venus couldn't stop herself from snickering.

It felt so right, Venus thought after hours of gossiping with Christa. The girl was sweet and pretty. She had a boyfriend though her parents had yet to realize it. Venus almost wished she hadn't graduated early and she could go off to school with Christa and be a normal teen. But, she was no normal teen. Venus was sure of that and she was determined to accept this little blessing of Reggie and his family and not take any of the experiences for granted. It turned out that Sheila did need Venus and Venus didn't mind at all doing the chores around the house. She did end up helping tutor Toby and Christa, though it was starting to be too difficult to make Toby pay any attention to anything besides herself. Weeks went by in a flash...so fast that when Venus happened to look at the calendar, she had to double back and make sure. In just a few days it would be Thanksgiving already. Venus had originally planned to be in California by now though she couldn't muster any disappointment to her current situation. Reggie had said his younger brother was coming into town for the holidays. From what Venus could gather his brother Michael, was 26, lived in New York and was a successful stockbroker. He only got to visit on holidays and only could stay for a few days at a time. So, Venus worked hard to make sure the home was looking great so Sheila wouldn't be stressed over it.

Thanksgiving suddenly was here and both Venus and Sheila slaved in the kitchen all day.. The bounty that Sheila was preparing boggled Venus' mind. She'd never seen such a spread. Two enormous turkeys, corn, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing, dessert upon dessert. Surely this food would last at least a month, she thought amused. When she voiced her thought Sheila dismissed it with a chuckle.

“You’ll rethink that after you have seen Michael eat,” she said amused. 

Venus had never eaten so well in her life and she was sure a few more weeks of this and she'd blimp up. When dinner time arrived, Michael still had not arrived though it seemed Reggie was not too concerned about that fact.

“Well let’s get going,” he exclaimed, rubbing his hands together greedily. “He’ll get here when he gets here.”

The family crowded around the dinner table and Venus bowed her head as Reggie said grace. She listened to his melodic voice, the soothing comforting sound of his praises and thanks so intently that she didn't hear the front door close or the greetings from around her. When Venus opened her eyes, she found herself staring into the pale blue eyes of an incredibly gorgeous stranger. He was tall, very muscular, with dirty blond hair cropped short. He looked as surprised as she felt and heat quickly flew up to her cheeks. He wet his lips with a quick dart of his tongue.
“You must be Venus. I'm Michael,” he said in a deep voice that curled its way into the pit of her stomach.

He offered his hand and she paused to look at it. It was large and masculine but soft. She placed hers in it and he brought it to his lips. God, the kiss he placed on the back of her hand send shock waves all the way down to her toes. Embarrassed by her reaction to the older man, her eyes darted back to the table. After greeting everyone else at the table, Michael took the empty seat directly across from Venus.

Michael was floored. The little nymph in front of him was gorgeous. Not to mention, the one that he'd been waiting his entire existence on this earthen plane for. Michael was
the
Michael, Archangel of the highest order. He had been sent here to earth, awaiting the day that she would walk into his life. Now that she had, human emotions tore through him, ones that he had never experienced until now. Angels in their true form were more androgynous and asexual than anything else. But in his present state, a vibrant, attractive, twenty something male, the sexual awareness he had of her was not only overwhelming but intensely embarrassing given the proof of his arousal was jetting out against the rough denim of his Armani jeans. Venus...she was breathtaking. Her role in the fate of the world was critical. She alone would determine which Vampyre bloodline would continue to exist. Choosing the wrong one would have catastrophic implications on the entire human race. Michael knew her fate was not sealed yet and it was his duty to guide her toward the correct path. Both bloodlines knew of her existence, though not of her name, nor what she looked like or where she lived. Both bloodlines had a prince of impeccable breeding ready to claim her as his own. The victor would be host of an heir that would be the equivalent of the second coming of Christ or in the eyes of the Descendants of Cain, the anti-Christ. The Talmidim, those that drank of the bloodline were bloodthirsty, mindless beings. They obeyed only those of their bloodline and had to be kept on a very short leash with the consumption of human blood. The thirteenth bloodline let their Talmidim have free reign, wreaking havoc and destruction in their wake. With a leader as powerful as an anti-Christ, the Talmidim of the thirteenth bloodline would threaten human existence.

After finishing his second plate of turkey and dressing, Michael looked up and met Venus' eyes. Hers were already taking him in with curiosity. Her enormous green eyes were focused on the piece of metal hanging on a chain at his throat. It was a plain piece of titanium inscribed with the words Warrior of God in Enochian. Her hand flinched a little as if she wanted to touch it and Lord knows that he wanted her to touch it just to feel the brush of her skin on his. Michael knew he shouldn't be feeling anything towards the girl. First, she was but a child. Second, as an emissary of God, he didn't have the luxury of finding or having love with a human. Third, when his mission was over he would return to the heavens where he belonged. He knew that the only reason he felt anything for her were the hormones raging through his body. Purely sexual tension, that was it, he told himself.

His sister-in-law, Sheila, pushed away from the table and started gathering dishes. Venus jumped up quickly and laid a gentle hand on Sheila's arm.

“Sheila, you relax. I'll take care of the dishes,” Venus said in a voice that was more torturous to Michael than a thousand lashes at his back.

It was soft, breathy, and it made his blood boil with desire. Sheila's face relaxed with relief and sat down.

“Thank you so much Venus. You're a Godsend!”

Michael tilted his head at her choice of words. She had no idea, he thought.

Venus piled the dishes in her arm and took off into the kitchen. Michael was so attuned to her every movement that he didn't hear Reggie ask him a question. When his brother cleared his throat, Michael turned his head toward the man. Reggie had a knowing look on his face that was tempered by a deep frown.

“I asked how long you plan on staying,” Reggie repeated, wiping his mouth with a napkin and reaching for his glass of tea.

Michael didn't quite have a game plan yet. He either needed to quit his job and move here or somehow find a way to take Venus with him back to New York.

“Not sure yet bro. Tryin' to get rid of me already?” Michael joked.

“You know better. I only get to see you once a year. I'm home for the next three days, maybe we can go play a round.”

Michael nodded his attention still turned towards the kitchen. “That would be great. Maybe Venus can join us.”

Reggie's eyebrows flew up and his jaw tightened. “Hey kids, go grab the desserts from the kitchen.”

Christa and Toby obeyed immediately without question and Reggie leaned in towards Michael.

“Listen Mike...Venus is just a kid, a good kid. I don't think you should do anything to make it seem like you're into her.”

Had his actions implied any nefarious intentions? Michael thought to himself. He sighed while taking in Reggie's protective face.

“She seems great. I just figured maybe she ought to have some fun.”
“Fun for an eighteen year old girl is not playing golf who two much older men.”
“Hey, you never know,” Michael said with a mischievous smile.

He got up from the table, piling his own plates in one hand and gave Reggie one last look. Reggie just shook his head and glared at him.

“Just don't do anything to hurt her Michael,” Reggie warned.

Like he would, oh ye of little faith, Michael thought. He went to the kitchen passing by Toby and Christa with their hands full of sweet treats. Venus' back was to him at the kitchen sink. The water was running so she didn't hear him at first. She was of average height but had a tiny frame. It triggered his protective instincts as much as he figured it did Reggie. Michael approached her slowly, not wanting to scare her. As he got closer he drew the scent of her into his nose and he froze. It made his whole body clench up. He was so weak, he thought scornfully. His charge was temptation incarnate. He struggled to keep moving and then he was directly behind her. He reached around her and placed the dirty dishes on the counter next to her. Her head twisted quickly, surprised and she let out a little gasp. Pulling his arm back he casually let it graze her own and they both shuddered from the sparks of electricity that filled them.

“Can I help?” Michael asked after having to clear his throat several times. Venus looked at him with wide doe eyes for the longest few seconds of his life.

“What? Oh no, I'm fine,” she said, color flooding her cheeks.

She turned back toward her task and Michael knew he needed to walk back out of the kitchen until he figured out how he was going to break the news to her about her life.

“Venus, do you feel like stepping outside with me for some fresh air?”

The words were out of his mouth before he could clamp his lips shut.

She turned to face him again but her face was troubled, her gaze wary. A building block in her mental wall broke and he was flooded with her secrets. Michael was buffeted with the horrors that she had endured for all these years. He had to squeeze his eyes shut and swayed at the force of them all.