The Survivor (Book 2)

Chapter 2

Zack’s favorite mall was packed to the ceiling with people. They often unknowingly bumped into his wings, and he’d groan each time they did. Zack spent most of his stack of cash in the first twenty minutes of being in the mall. I was getting frustrated, as it was one of those days where no matter what I tried on, it wouldn’t fit right.

He told me to take a break while he went to get us something to drink. I was alone for five seconds before being approached by a tale teenage boy–taller than Zack–who smelled heavily of salt water.

“We share a similar characteristic,” he said softly, his shoulder bumping mine. “I’m pretty sure you know what that is.”

“You’re like me,” I nodded. “But I’m better.”

“Oh yeah? How so?”

“I’m the Savior,” his deep blue eyes swallowed me. “I didn’t meet you in the war. What’s your name?”

“I’m Sin,” he nodded. “I had an excused absence. Most of our kind was sent to keep the humans under control. Make sure they didn’t get torched like Heaven did.”

“Gabriel didn’t tell me about that.”

“Gabriel was trying to keep things from getting out of control.”

“That’s my job,” I crossed my arms over my chest.

“You never told me your name, you know,” he matched my stance. I nodded. “Oh, c’mon. Don’t play me like that, Savior. It’s only your name. Not like I’m asking you to marry me, though you would make a beautiful bride.”

I blushed violently, “I-I, um,” I held up my left hand, wiggling my ring finger.

“Jesus Christ, you’re one of those girls?”

“What girls?!”

“The kind that thinks they’ll be with their five-second boyfriend until the day they die. Let me fill you in, sweetheart, he’ll be gone before you can say ‘I do.’”

“Oh yeah? And what kind of boyfriend would you be, sweetheart?” I smirked. This ought to be good.

“Not really boyfriend material. More of a one-night stand kinda guy.”

“And you’re one to be judging relationships,” I snorted, spotting Zack in the mess of humans. He had a frown on his face and eyed the mermaid next to me suspiciously. “You don’t even know my name, so how could you possibly begin to judge the relationships I have?”

“I know you had nothing until you met him, and I know that makes you vulnerable. I know he’d leave you for that god. The one with the purple eyes. What’s his name again?”

“Eros?” I laughed. “Zack wouldn’t leave me for Eros. Eros is with-”

“Taylor, but Taylor is a demon, and that scares the shit out of Eros,” Sin shrugged. “You’re not the only one with a father for an angel, sweetheart.”

I sent him a glance, not knowing how else he could know so much about me. “Then you know my name.”

“You’re not thinking about your name, now are you?” he chuckled. “Oh, but Zack is. Nice to meet you, Treble.”

“Why’d you come over here?” I asked, knowing he had some sort of motive. “What do you want?”

“Just you,” he said softly. Darkly. His voice was intimidating, and I shuddered. “Come with me, and I won’t hurt you.”

“You can’t hurt me anyway. I can’t die.”

“I didn’t say I’d kill you. I said I’d hurt you,” he laughed devilishly and started walking through the sea of people. I gulped and followed. I was dead. I was so dead. Zack had no means of finding me, since he couldn’t read minds and I couldn’t place my thoughts in his head.