Til We Fall

Chapter Three

Cayden

He wearily blinked his eyes as he was pulled out of the vision. He vaguely realised his cheeks were wet, and his entire body was shaking. The Shine on his back was tingling as it did every time he came into contact with powerful magic. Swallowing thickly, Cayden slowly released the small pendant from his tight grasp, dropping it onto the bedside table.

He pressed his fingers to cheek, wiping away the moisture. He inhaled deeply, squeezing his eyes shut before pressing the heels of his hands to his eyes.

What the hell was that? It’s impossible, we can’t be… he thought. She’s an angel, an angel, and suddenly he remembered what he had thought when he had first laid eyes on her almost 600 years ago, an earthbound angel.

Groaning, the demon sank down onto the bed, cradling his head. Suddenly he remembered that she was still in the apartment. He strained his ears to listen for the shower, and froze when he heard nothing. Crap, crap, crap. She must have found the Triquetra on the door.

Cayden immediately stood up, grapping the bracelet and walked over to the door of the bedroom, forgetting to put a shirt on in his haste to see what exactly the angel was up to. He was in such a rush he didn’t notice the tangled sheets at the door and almost fell flat on his face before catching himself on the corner of the couch.

He looked up just in time to see her turn to face him. Her eyes were wide, and she was biting her bottom lip. In one hand she clutched his necklace with the matching ankh hidden between her fingers. Her cheeks were shining in the pale morning light, and she was shaking as she stared at him.

They watched each other for a moment that seemed to last forever. Slowly, never breaking eye contact, he stood up properly and walked towards her. She seemed to take a deep breath as he moved closer, but made no move to stop him.

Cayden stopped just in front of her, eyes roaming over her face as he felt that stabbing burn of recognition in his gut. At least now he knew where it came from. She was gorgeous, the sun falling on her and softening her features and giving her an expression of almost child-like innocence. Her eyes shone grey, and her cheeks shone with spilled tears.

“Cayden Howard.” she whispered.

“Gabrielle Pike.” he replied just as quietly.

Gabrielle

She came back to herself slowly, her eyes fluttering and her eyelashes pulling away from each other. She took a deep gasping breath as she was catapulted out of the vision. She squeezed her eyes shut and took several deep breaths, trying to calm her racing heart. She swallowed thickly and opened her eyes. She was shaking, and she could feel the lily on the back of her neck prickling uncomfortably.

She turned her head to look at the small charm still locked in her grasp. Biting her lip, she slowly uncurled her fingers from around the ankh until it was suspended from the leather wrapped around her index finger.

Suddenly there was a bang behind her, and she whipped around to see Cayden staring at her from the floor. She froze attraction and logic warring inside her mind. Slowly the demon stood up and walked over to her. His eyes never left hers as he moved right up into her personal space.

She was entranced by his face, the soft morning light making his eyes look like emeralds. His lips were mere millimetres from her. She felt her eyelids lower and unconsciously heard her voice whisper,

“Cayden Howard.”

“Gabrielle Pike.” he whispered back in his whiskey voice.

This is impossible, he’s a demon. But… she thought numbly. She vaguely realised the attraction was winning her inner war as she leaned forward into him.