Nephilum

Chapter 7

I looked around at the small office. There were neat stacks of paper on the edge of a dark brown desk. The air smelled faintly of something I couldn't place. Everything seemed crisp, perfect. A book shelf in the corner looked like it was in danger of collapsing; there were so many books on it. There weren't any windows but light certainly was not an issue. If anything, there was too much light.

A formal looking man stood in front of the desk, back as straight as a rod. His eyes roamed over my attire quickly. A look of disgust crossed over his features before he looked back at James. He had this aura of impotance. I knew instantly I didn't like this guy. He looked like a snob.

"Who are you?" I asked, my voice innocent. I wanted to let him know that even though he thinks he's awesome, I have no idea who he was.

He scowled. His eyes narrowed and I smiled back at him sweetly. "Rodger."

James glaced between us curiosly, the beginnings of a smile gracing his lips. "Oh, well I'm sure you already know me, but I'm Elizabeth. My friends call me Lizzy, so it's Elizabeth to you."

Rodger's gaze hardened as he looked down at me, both figuratively and literally. "I'm sure you have many questions."

"Given the fact that some random guy basically kidnapped me, killed people, and claimed to be an angel...yeah I guess you can say I have a few questions."

"Don't forget, she killed a demon by throwing fire at it." James added. I grimaced.

"That was an accident." I growled at James. I really wish he'd stop bringing it up so I can forget about it.

James shrugged his shoulders, feigning innocence. I felt myself start to get angry and I took a slow, deep breath to calm myself.

Rodger looked interested, cocking his head at James' very unwelcome comment. "What does he mean, you killed a demon by throwing fire at it?"

I rolled my eyes and sighed. "Can we sit or something? This is probably going to be a long conversation."

He nodded and reatreated behind his desk to take his seat. James and I took our seats in front of Rodger. "Let me guess, you want all the details, don't you?"

He nodded vigourously.

I took a deep breath and started to explain everything that had happened over the past week or two. I avoided James eyes as I recounted the story. I suddenly found myself anxious, bouncing my knee against the floor. My whole body shook slightly from the force I was using.

James laid a hand on my leg, keeping it firmly stuck to the floor. As soon as he took it off, I bounced my leg even more than last time. He sighed, but didn't say anything.

"Interesting." Rodger stated. He scrutinized me like a scientist observing a newly discovered specimen.

A sudden thought struck me like a semi truck to chest. "Am I human?"

Rodger stared at me, completely caught off gaurd. He shifted uncomfortably before clearing his throat. "Technically yes."

"Technically? What's that supposed to mean?"

"You are human, but you're also something else."

I looked at him expectantly. In my peripheral vision, I saw James sit straighter, throwing a questioning glance at Rodger. When Rodger didn't add on to his previous statement, I prompted him. "And..."

Rodger sighed and stood up. He walked over to a wall and pressed something into a key pad I hadn't noticed earlier. The key pad dinged and the far wall lit up with a blue glow. I rose my brows in surprise. "Elizabeth, you're something we've never seen before. You're something called a nephilum. Do you know what that is?"

I thought about it for a moment. It sounded familiar. Then I remebered. "I think. I read a book last year with a nephilum in it."

"What do you think they are?"

"Aren't they like half angel, half human?"

He noded slightly. "What else do you know about them?"

"They have some angel powers." Then I gasped. "Oh my God, I'm a nephilum aren't I?"

He nodded. He cocked his head, studying my reaction. There were a million questions racing through my mind, but the only one I could focus on regarded my parents.

"Wait, so if I'm half angel, doesn't that mean that one of my parents is an angel?"

He nodded.

"But neither of my parents are angels. I don't think they are anyway."

"Elizabeth, we were able to discover that you're biological mother died during your birth. We don't yet know who your father is, but we hope your powers will tell us who he is."

"Well I can burn people alive. What does that tell you?" I snapped bitterly.

"It tells us that your father is a very powerful angel. Elemental powers are fairly rare. Yours deals with fire, which is even more rare."

"Wait, but my parents are at home right now. Neither of them are angels. Do they even know where I am? I haven't contacted them in two days. They're pobably freaking out. What about Sam and Ethan? They're probably freaking out too-"

"Lizzy, breathe. Your parents are not biological. You were adopted almost as soon as you were born. Your parents and friends think you were killed in the fire." He sounded almost robotic as he said it.

It took me a few moments to proccess what he had said. My friends; my family; they think I'm dead. People I've known my whole life. Guilt suddenly engulfed me from head to toe. Tears blurred my eyes and I blinked hard to keep them at bay.

"No. We need to tell them that I'm fine. You don't know the last thing I said to them. I was so annoyed with my friends." I looked at him, pleading.

"I'm sorry, but we can't risk the mortals finding out about us." He didn't sound the least bit sorry.

"Oh no. My brother, Alex." I was mumbling to myself now. I couldn't imagine the grief my friends and family were probably feeling right now.

"Anyway, we need to get you to a safe house." Rodger said nonchalantly.

I glared at him harshly. I was deathly calm. "Anyway? How can you dismiss my family, my whole life like that?" I was starting to shake.

"Because you're family has no importance to me. They're just mortals. I only need you." He was staring right back in my eyes.

The shaking in my arms increased and I clenched my fists so hard I drew blood in my palms. My body was starting to glow and I felt the familiar fire rolling through my veins. This wasn't like the demon. I wanted to hurt Rodger. No, needed to hurt Rodger.

"My family not just mortals. They are the ones that has kept me alive. They are the ones who made me feel like I had a family. All you and your furry winged friends did was watch as we struggled. Hell, you probably had a bowl of popcorn." I was past mad now. I don't get mad easily, but when you make fun of my friends or family, I am a force to be reckoned with.

He smiled, a smile that only showed amusement at my outburst. I wanted nothing more in that moment than to wipe it off his face.

"Angels don't eat." That's what finally set me off. James backed away from me as I stood up, glaring Rodger down. Despite my short stature, I felt tall. Powerful. I raised my hands, completely in control.

The inferno inside me fought to get out and this time I didn't fight it.