Chapter 6 — Complications are a part of life

Bree:

I don’t think I’ve ever seen Fallon so angry. As we make our way down the empty streets in his dark SUV, I hold tightly to my seatbelt and resist the urge to openly gape at his stunning profile. I mean, the man is a walking dream with his gorgeous dark hair, creamy skin, and tantalizingly clear eyes that look like molten silver. I almost swallowed my tongue when he stepped out of his room wearing a fitted black sweater, black jeans, and black combat boots. His arms are riddled with intricate tattoo sleeves, and his hair was tied back into a ponytail, emphasizing his chiseled jaw and perfectly curved brows.

Gazing from the corner of my eyes at his stiff posture, I bite my lower lip and try not to squirm in my seat. It’s still pretty early in the morning, and the light of day shines brightly against his pearly skin. I release an internal groan as the light swirls around him, making him look almost ethereal in his beauty. I’m still reeling at the fact that he has no true soul. I mean, the man looks heaven-sent. He’s the epitome of a dark angel. After our rescue, Zoe commented to me that Fallon reminded her of a model. I had to agree. He does kind of look like the actor who plays the Man of Steel.

Whenever I move, his hands tighten around the steering wheel, and his jaw clenches tighter. I swear that I can almost hear his teeth grinding together.

Turning my head toward the window, I swallow deeply and close my eyes. I feel so helpless. I can’t believe how badly I messed up everything. I was so sure that things would turn out well. I had this whole scenario in my head where my date and I would instantly click, and I’d find someone who I can fall in love with. I feel like such an idiot now. How could I have been so naïve? And now, the man who’ve I’ve been dreaming of has a front-row seat to my foolishness.

Fallon remains silent as he ushers me to my apartment. His posture and vigilant expression remain in place as he scopes out the area before opening the door and searching each room.

The apartment is quiet but free of any presence other than our own. Everything is where it should be. My coffee mug is in the sink, and my laptop is on top of the kitchen table.

Fallon’s large form makes the room feel small as he strides through the kitchen.

Once he’s done, he stops in front of me and rubs the back of his neck. “Does anything look like it has been disturbed to you?

I shake my head. “No, it looks—”

Wood particles shatter around us as a large body bursts through my bedroom door. Before I can react, Fallon pushes me behind him and rams into the form.

Both bodies collide with a loud thump as Fallon falls upon the creature.

It’s Angelo. But unlike before, his form is fully sheathed in what I assumed was his armor. However, as I fearfully observe him struggle within Fallon’s grip, I can see that it’s actually his skin. His humanoid skin is scaly, and his face looks like a lizard's face with his slitted eyes and flat nose.

A startled cry escapes my lip when he opens his mouth and releases a frightening screech, his lips pulled back from his large fangs and snakelike tongue. His eyes are as black as night, and his hands are curled into grotesque claws.

Cringing back, I cover my ears as the creature’s cry grows stronger. However, it is quickly cut off when Fallon produces a flaming blade out of thin air and stabs it into its neck, decapitating it.

To my shock, smoke bursts from the cut and engulfs the creature until there are only ashes where the creature was.

Heart pounding wildly in my chest, I lower my hands from my ears and look at Fallon.

As quickly as the blade appeared, it vanishes. Fallon rises to his feet, his expression neutral as he gazes down at the ashes with disgust.

“Was that…him?” He asks.

I nod my head. “Yeah, but I could have sworn he was a man,” I state incredulously.

Fallon’s brow furrows. “To be honest, I’m not sure what he was. I would have said shapeshifter if it wasn’t for the odd scales and lizard head, but shapeshifters are rare, and they usually don’t look like that.”

“Are you sure?” I ask, shaken.

Fallon nods. “I’ve lived for a very long time on earth and hell where I’ve seen many creatures, but none that looked like that. However, this isn’t the first time that I’ve seen something this otherworldly. In fact, this is the second time this week that I’ve seen something that I had never seen before.”

I bite my lip as I process his words. “How can that be?”

Fallon turns and faces me, his expression drawn. “I don’t know, but I’m going to find out because there’s no way that this creature is supernatural.”

My brow furrows. “Well, my ring didn’t glow…so…”

Fallon shakes his head. “It’s not because of your ring. No, that’s not why. It just didn’t…feel right. I’m Lucifer’s son, and because of that, I can sense all supernatural creatures.”

“How?” I ask.

He shrugs. “Most creatures have an aura. Almost like a supernatural imprint that they all carry. Sometimes it’s a feeling, and sometimes I can see it. It’s hard to explain, but I can sense it on almost all creatures. Except for…” he drifts off thoughtfully.

“Except for who?” I ask.

His eyes snap to mine as if he just realized where he is. “Except for your sister. She’s the only one that I couldn’t read. From the moment I met her, her imprint signified that she was human. However, we know that’s not completely true now.”

I nod. “Do you think it’s because she was born into a human body?”

Fallon shakes his head. “I don’t know…maybe.” His eyes narrow, and his jaw ticks with emotion. “All I know is that something was off about that creature, and I intend to find out what.”

Without another word, he pulls out his cell phone and shoots out a quick text. “I sent my father the information. Hopefully, he can give me some insight on what this may be.”

I think about everything I’ve learned from Zoe and Amara regarding the supernatural world and take a deep breath. Then, I remember Zoe telling me about the creatures that a crazy scientist created in his secret lab last year. “Do you think it’s one of those Frankenstein monsters that were terrorizing the school campus last year?”

His brow quirks with surprise. “Zoe told you?” he asks.

I nod. “Yeah, I mean, it’s our school, so she got worried that something might happen.”

He gives me an agreeable nod. “Lucifer asked me the same question. But no, I don’t think this was an experiment. All of the experiments that were recovered were stitched up from supernatural body parts, and this creature…” he gestures to the ashes. “…this creature did not look like it was sewn together.”

A chill courses up my spine as I consider his words. “So, what do we do?”

He releases a weary sigh. “For now...? You will come home with me until we’re sure that this is an isolated incident. With the ambiguity of this creature, I cannot take the chance that you will not be attacked again.”

My mouth opens and closes as I try to come up with a response. “But…uh…erm…I have a life. I have to go to school. I can’t just upend my life again, not after what happened the last time.”

Fallon tilts his head and snickers. “You do realize that this all came about because of a choice you made, don’t you?”

Crossing my arms in front of my chest, I give him a heated glare. “Look, I get it...I really messed up.” I state bitterly. “But I didn’t the last time you kidnapped me or the second time that those crazy bitches, Marael and Sahara, tried to sacrifice us. Back then, I was just an innocent human girl saddled with a messed-up prophecy.”

Before he can retort, I hold my palm up in a stalling motion. “I never asked for this, Fallon! But I’ve tried to move on from this, and it’s unfair that it’s happening again. Please, I just want things to be as normal as you can make it. Can’t we just…just find another way. This is my last semester in school, and all I want to do is graduate. I may not have control over my love life, but I can still have semi-normal friendships and a career if I want. Please, Fallon.”

I’m not afraid to beg at this point. I lost so much school when he took me and after our ordeal with Sahara and Marael. All I really want to do is finish school and move on. At this point, finishing school is the only thing I can control, considering the choices that have already been taken from me.

His expression softens as he moves closer. At first, I think he’s going to refuse, but to my surprise, he releases a frustrated sigh and says. “Very well. I guess you can stay with me, and I can escort you to school until we are sure that the creature was working alone.”

Even though I want to refute his plan, I know that this is probably as good as it’ll get until everything settles down.

Fallon must see my compliance because he nods and reaches for his phone again.

“I’m going to call Azazel and see if he can help us.”

Before he can dial, I snatch the phone from his hand. “No! Please don’t call him.”

Fallon’s brow furrows. “Why?”

“Because…” I throw my hands up frustratedly and begin to pace in place. “Because then he’ll involve Zoe, who in turn will tell my sister, and they’ll all become overprotective.”

Fallon’s expression is incredulous as he listens patiently. “Don’t you think that they deserve to know?”

My eyes widen like saucers. “Not really. I mean, we’re not sure if this is anything to worry about yet. Right now, my sister is traveling for research, and Zoe is fulfilling her dream of creating music. If we tell them, they’ll just drop all of the important things they’re doing and come home. I just don’t want to burden them that way.”

Without a thought, I take his large hand in mine and mutter. “Please don’t call him. If you don’t, I promise that I’ll do what you need me to do until we figure out if someone is after me again.”

His skin against mine makes my hand tingle with pleasurable heat. I won’t lie and say that I don’t like the feeling of his large hand wrapped around mine. He’s at least a foot taller and a lot stronger than me, yet he’s always been so gentle.

Fallon looks at our joined hands, his eyes darkening with untold emotion. After a moment, he releases my hand and steps back. “Very well. I won’t tell them until we’re sure. But…” he says firmly. “But you have to fulfill your end of the bargain and do what I say.”

I nod. “Okay. I will.”

As we gather my things, I can’t help but feel a sense of excitement and trepidation. I will be living with Fallon, but how can I control my feelings around him?

I have no choice now. The dice have been rolled, and I have to live with whatever happens.