Beyond Judgement: Beyond Series, Book 1

Chapter 2

Eve

I tried to stay away from Allie. I didn't want to cause her more confusion or heartache by getting to know me, but I can't stay away from her anymore. I'm not breaking any rules yet. I know I'm supposed to kill her, but the Creator has allowed me time. It has been a month and I know his patience will soon run thin. It might be stupid of me to talk to Allie, but by doing so, I hope to confuse the Creator. I plan to persuade him to believe that gaining her trust will make the task easier. I know it will do the opposite, but I'm striving for enough time to come up with another plan that will protect Allie from him once and for all.

I'm sure I will hear about confronting her today, but I don't care. I lean over to the side of the chair closer to Allie. I know she is having a hard time with her feelings right now. I can feel it. Sensing human emotions is part of my abilities. My connection with her is far deeper than that.

She draws in a deep breath as our elbows touch on the armrest. I expected her to move her arm, but she doesn't. I watch her nervous leg bounce. I know she's uncomfortable. I need to back off.

"Sorry," I say, folding my hands together on my lap.

I know more about her than she does me. I have to go slow. I don't want to freak her out. Being an Angel has given me many things. My favorite are my wings. They're my camouflage when I need to be unseen and the best thing about me, for my wings hold my identity.
Out of the corner of my eye, I catch her looking at me. She feels our connection. The tingling in my chest is all the proof I need to know. I turn my attention toward the professor and try to focus on her lecture. Not because I care, or that I even need to know it, but because I need to blend in. Act human. Be human.

The professor dismisses us from class. Her voice pulls me back to reality. Allie and Lindy stand and shove their books back into their bags.

"I'll catch up with you, Lindy," Allie says.

I stand and watch Lindy leave the room. The room clears quickly. I rest my book on my hip and await the questions I know Allie has. I've felt them piling up in her head. She and I are now the only ones left in class.

"Are you new here?" Allie asks.

Her book bag is slung over her shoulder. She stands with one hand on her hip.

"Yes. Well, kind of." I shrug. "I've visited here before, but this is my first time living here."

"Where are you from?" she asks.

"Someplace a long way away from here." I smile.

I move the book from my hip and cradle it in my arms in front of me.

"That doesn't tell me where." She smiles. "But, you don't know me, so I get if you don't want to tell me."

"It's not that I don't want to tell you."

I do want to tell her, but I'm not supposed to tell anyone about myself. It is forbidden.

"I just can't." I look down at my feet to break her eye contact.

"Hey, it's okay. You owe me nothing," she says.

The door squeaks open and Allie jumps at the sudden sound.

"Are you okay?" Lindy asks, leaning on the door handle. "I was getting tired of waiting for you."

"Sorry, let's go." Allie nods to her friend. "Do you want to come with us, Eve?"

"Oh, no. I have someplace to be," I say.

"Okay, see you later."

I nod and watch Allie head out the metal door with Lindy. I don't know what it is about Allie. They have assigned me to kill and even watch over humans before, but there's just something about her that gets to me.

How was she able to bring out the angel in me when the demon side had laid claim to my body and mind? No human has flipped the switch inside of me before.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I don't have to stay at the college. I'm not even really a student. I'm just here to watch over Allie. I keep far enough away that she doesn't know I'm following her, but close enough that I can get to her in a hurry. I don't know where Damion is. He has been eerily MIA since the night I was sent to kill Allie. I know I can only get away with so much before the Creator catches on.

Allie and Lindy talk and laugh together. They go through their daily motions, oblivious to me, which is how it's supposed to be. Allie turns her head to the right and rolls her eyes. I see a tall, thin-framed girl headed their way. Her "I'm perfect" persona all too easy to read. I can only guess she's the one the eye roll was directed toward.

Little Miss Perfect edges closer to Allie and Lindy. I watch Allie shift her weight onto one leg and slide her hand upon her hip. I move in a little closer to see if I can hear them.

"What do you want, Stacey?" Allie sounds annoyed.

"Is that any way to greet a friend?" Stacey smiles.

"We're not friends," Lindy retorts.

"Allie and I used to be friends." Stacey winks.

"Maybe in another life, you were," Lindy says.

"Aren't you tired, Allie?" Stacey says, tilting her head to the side.

Allie sends a death glare to Stacey and shakes her head slightly. I can feel Allie's emotions inside my stomach. The nervousness almost makes me sick. There's something more, but I can't place what is familiar about Stacey.

"Allie-cat, it's not good to keep your friends in the dark," Stacey purrs. "But, then again, maybe Lindy here is just too dense to see it." She flips her hair off her shoulder with her hand. "It's really all too obvious."
Allie stares at the ground.

Stacey turns and walks away from them. Lindy snaps her head around toward Allie.

"What the hell is she talking about?" Lindy asks, "And, why is she calling you, Allie-cat?"

"I don't want to talk about it right now," Allie says, walking away from Lindy.

"Allie, wait," Lindy yells.

"Seriously, Lindy. Leave me alone."

"I'm not going to leave you alone until you tell me what Stacey means by all of that."

Lindy holds on to Allie's arm to keep her from leaving. Allie's eyes begin to tear up and she shakes her head. The shame and scared, nervous feeling fills my body and I know it's from Allie's emotions.

"I can't tell you. Not right now." Allie wipes away the tears from her eyes. "Lindy, please let me go."

Lindy removes her hand from Allie and watches her rundown the sidewalk. I sprint to catch up to Allie. I know if she won't talk to her best friend she probably won't talk to me either, but I have to keep my eyes on her.