“You,” he said simply.
I didn’t know how to respond. I didn’t appreciate the new turn the conversation was taking. “Well, that’s flattering, Jake, but you know I’m not available.”
“That’s irrelevant.”
“Not to me!” I took a step back. “I’m in love with Xavier.”
Jake regarded me coolly. “Isn’t it obvious to you that you’re with the wrong person?”
“No, it’s not,” I retorted. “I suppose you’re arrogant enough to think you’re the right person?”
“I just think I deserve a chance.”
“You promised not to bring this up again,” I said. “You and I are friends, and you ought to value that.”
“Oh, I do, but it’s not enough for me.”
“That’s not for you to decide! I’m not a toy that you can just point your finger at and have.”
“I disagree.”
He sprang lightly forward, grabbing my shoulders, and pulled me toward him. He pressed our bodies together and his lips sought mine. I averted my face in protest, but he brought one hand up to force me to look at him and crushed his lips against mine. Something flashed in the sky, though there’d been no sign of rain. His kiss was hard and forceful, and his hands held my body in an iron grip. I struggled, pushing against his chest, and finally broke the contact between us.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I shouted, my anger fomenting now.
“Giving us what we both want,” he replied.
“I don’t want this,” I cried. “What have I done to make you think I wanted this?”
“I know you, Bethany Church. You’re no mouse,” Jake snarled. “I’ve seen the way you look at me, and I’ve felt the connection between us.”
“There is no connection,” I stressed. “Not with you. I’m sorry if you’ve been misled.”
His eyes flashed dangerously. “Are you honestly turning me down?” he asked.
“I honestly am,” I said. “I’m with Xavier. I’ve been trying to tell you that. It’s not my fault you’ve chosen not to believe me.”
Jake took a step toward me, his face dark with anger. “Are you quite sure you know what you’re doing?”
“I’ve never been more sure about anything,” I said coldly. “You and I can only ever be friends, Jake.”
He let out a throaty laugh. “No, thank you,” he announced. “Not interested.”
“Can’t you at least try to be mature about this?” I said.
“I don’t think you understand, Beth. We’re meant to be together. I’ve waited for you all my life.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve been looking for you for centuries. I’d almost given up hope.”
I felt a strange coldness grip my chest. What was he talking about?
“Never, in my wildest dreams, did I imagine that you would be… one of them. I struggled against it at first, but it was no use — our destiny is written in the stars.”
“You’ve got the wrong idea,” I said. “We have no destiny together.”
“Do you know what it’s like to wander the earth aimlessly in search of someone who could be anywhere? I’m not about to walk away from it now.”
“Well, maybe you don’t have a choice.”
“I’m going to give you one more chance,” he said in a low voice. “I don’t think you realize this, but you’re making a terrible mistake — one that will cost you dearly.”
“I don’t respond to threats,” I said haughtily.
“Very well.” Jake’s whole face clouded over and he took a step away, his body giving a violent shudder as though he was enraged by the very sight of me. “I’m done making nice with the angels.”
27
Playing with Fire
In the next moment Jake spun around and disappeared the way we’d come. I stood fixed to the spot, a chill permeating my body. I wondered if I could have misheard the threat in his parting words. But I knew I hadn’t. I suddenly felt like the night was pressing down on me, suffocating me. There were two things I was now certain of: First, Jake Thorn knew about us; and second, he was dangerous. I realized I had been completely blind not to see it before. I had so badly wanted to see the good in him that I’d ignored the blatant warning signs that screamed at me to retreat. Now those signs were flashing as bright as neon lights.
Someone grabbed my elbow and I gasped. I was relieved to find it was just Molly.
“What’s going on?” she demanded. “We could see you through the window! Are you with Jake now? Did you and Xavier have a fight or something?”
“No,” I spluttered, “I’m not with Jake, of course not! He just… I don’t know what happened… I have to go home.”
“What? Why? You can’t just leave. What about the after-party?” Molly said, but I had already started running.
I found Gabriel and Ivy seated at the teachers’ table and pulled them away. “We have to leave,” I said, tugging at Gabe’s sleeve.
I wasn’t sure if he already knew what had happened or if he just sensed the urgency in my voice, but he didn’t ask any questions. He and Ivy silently collected their belongings and led me out of the pavilion and into the Jeep. They listened wordlessly on the trip home as I explained what had happened with Jake and repeated his parting words.
“I can’t believe I’ve been so stupid,” I moaned, putting my head in my hands. “I should have noticed… I should have realized.”
“This is not your fault, Bethany,” said Ivy.
“What’s the matter with me?” I replied. “Why didn’t I feel it? You felt something was wrong, didn’t you? You knew it as soon as he set foot in our house.”
“We felt a dark energy,” Gabe admitted.
“Why didn’t you say something?” I asked. “Why didn’t you stop me from going with him?”
“We couldn’t be sure,” Gabriel said. “His mind was very guarded; it was nearly impossible to glean any information. It might have been nothing, and we didn’t want to worry you for no reason.”
“Troubled humans can also have dark auras,” Ivy added. “The result of any number of things, tragedy, grief, pain. ..”
“And evil intentions,” I added.
“Those too,” admitted Gabriel. “We didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but if this boy knows what we are then there is every chance that he may be… well, stronger than your average human.”
“How much stronger?”
“I don’t know,” Gabriel replied. “Unless… you don’t think Xavier might have…” He trailed off.
I shot an angry glance in his direction.
“Xavier would never tell anyone our secret,” I said. “I can’t believe you’d even think that. You should know him by now.”
“Okay. Say Xavier has nothing to do with this,” said Gabriel. “There is something unnatural about Jake Thorn — I can feel it and so can you, Bethany.”
“So what do we do now?” I asked.
“We have to bide our time,” replied Gabriel. “These events will unfold naturally. We mustn’t rush into anything. If he is truly dangerous, he will reveal himself in time.”
When we got home, Ivy offered hot cocoa, but I declined. I went upstairs and took off my dress, feeling as though a great weight had just descended onto my shoulders. Things had been going so well, and now it seemed this one boy threatened to destroy it all. I tugged the pearls out of my hair and wiped off my makeup, feeling suddenly like nothing more than an imposter. It was too late to call Xavier, although I knew that speaking to him would make me feel better. Instead I put on my familiar pajamas and crawled into bed, clutching a stuffed toy Xavier had given me for comfort. I let the tears leak from my closed lids and soak into my pillow. I didn’t feel angry or frightened anymore; I just felt sad. I wished so much that things could be straightforward and simple. Why was our mission fraught with so many complications? I knew it was childish, but all I could think was how unjust it all was. I was too weary not to allow myself to drift off to sleep, but I did so knowing that all too soon a storm was about to rage.