Nephilum

Chapter10

"First thing's first, we need to settle where you're going to live." Veronica started. "We are aware that you want to live on Earth, but we believe the safest place for you would be here."

I looked at her. She, unlike Rodger, actually looked like she cared about my opinion. It made me like her a whole lot more. "That's true, I do want to live on Earth. I want to live with my family."

Rodger coughed. "Adopted family."

I glared daggers at him and when I looked up, Veronica was doing the same. "As I was saying, I want to live with my family back in Michigan."

Devin spoke up, surprising me because I forgot he was there. "Elizabeth," he paused, "Hey, can I call you Liz or something? Elizabeth takes forever to say."

I smiled at him and rolled my eyes playfully. "Sure."

"Anyway Liz, I really don't think you should go back. To Michigan at least. You don't realize it, but there are demons literally everywhere. You will be putting your family in danger." He looked a little less bored, but it seemed like his mind was still somewhere else.

I thought in silence for a moment. I really didn't want to put my family in danger, but I also really want to see my family. "I see where you're coming from and I think I'm going to stay here."

"Good choice." Veronica stated. "And now on to the next problem. Now that I've met you I really doubt you'd stay in this house for the foreseeable future so I would allow you to go with Devin five days a week and train with him. You can bring James or Michael along if you wish."

I shrugged. "Sure, it'd give me something more to do around here than watch T.V."

Devin smirked. "You might regret this later."

"I think I can handle it."

"Don't say I didn't warn you."

I decided to ignore his remark and turn my attention back to Veroncia. "What else?"

"We need to get you informed on demons. Why they want to kill you. How to kill them. That's what Jakob is here for."

Jakob looked up at the mention of his name. He looked just as impassive as he had earlier. Not a hint of emotion laid upon his face. "Demons are obviously trying to kill you. They want you dead because you are very powerful and they know that they would never be able to contain you. If they thought they could turn you to their side, they would, but they know you'd never do that."

"You talk like you know them." I said, cocking my head at him curiously.

His expression stayed neutral. "That's because I spent half my life in one of their compounds as prisoner."

My eyes widened in surprise. I was sure my expression was full of sympathy. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know-"

"It's fine." He cut me off. "It was a long time ago."

I nodded.

"Anyway, you have certain powers that would benefit them immensley but if they can't have them, they don't want us to have them. I'm sure Devin will teach you how to kill a demon so I'm not going to go into depth about that. There are ways to tell for sure that someone is a demon. Not all demons have red eyes. A little less than half don't. You have to pay attention to their facial structure and you have to watch their stance. They have very sharp, features and when they stand, they look rigid. No matter how they feel, they don't smile. They don't cry. They don't show emotion at all."

"Like you?" The comment slipped out before I had the chance to stop it and I immediately blushed at how rude it sounded. Devin snorted.

He didn't smile, but his eyes gleamed slightly. "Exactly like me."

I cast a fleeting glance at James who was leaning against the wall, looking like he would rather be any other place than here. I kept trying to find similarities in the way they held themselves, but I came up with nothing. James' face was full of emotions; his jawline too sharp to be his fathers; his nose too crooked.

As if he felt himself being watched, his hazel eyes darted to me. My first instinct was to look away, but I didn't, holding his gaze until he cocked his head. He stared at me like I was a science experiment-like he was trying to figure me out.

I broke eye contact with him and returned my focus back to Jakob. He was looking between his son and I. I had a feeling he thought there was something going on between us, but I couldn't be sure since I couldn't exactly read his expressions like a book.

"Are you guys done because I have a few questions of my own." I asked, looking at Veronica.

The corners of her lips twitched slightly in amusement. "Yes Elizabeth, we're done."

"Good. So what am I supposed to do as a nephilum?"

Veronica took a second to think about that before she answered me. "For now, I think you should just focus on staying alive and training with Devin." I narrowed my eyes at her. She was hiding something. I don't know how I knew, but I just did.

"What aren't you telling me?" I asked her bluntly. James perked up from his spot against the wall. He certainly looked more interested.

Veronica, Jakob, and Devin shared a look, but said nothing.

"Fine, don't answer. Whatever. I have more questions though and if you don't answer them, I'm out of here."

"I don't think you understand our agreement." Rodger said, interjecting for the first time since Veronica's scolding. "You can't leave. Not unless we want you to."

I looked at him. Truth be told, I was a little shocked at how casually he said it. I raised an eyebrow at Rodger.

"Oh yeah? What are you going to do about it?" I asked. I felt the blood in my veins start to boil, both figuratively and literally.

"I am more powerful than you can even imagine." Rodger told me with a glare.

"Is that why you are stuck with the mundane job of assigning stuff to andgels when there are much more interesting things more important people are doing?" I asked him. An innocent smile graced my features.

Rodger's eyes hardened. His expression was as cold as ice.

"Well at least I have a family that wants me." He said calmly. I don't know why his comment hurt so much because I know my parents and brother love me, but I did feel deep down, like my biological parents didn't want me.

"Rodger, Elizabeth, that is enough." Veronica said sternly, raising her voice slightly. They all looked at me cautiously, excluding Rodger, but it was too late. The fire building up in me craved escape.

My gaze locked on Rodger. My body started to glow. My body shook with the effort it took to try to contain another outburst.

If it were just Rodger and I, I wouldn't have bothered to control it, but I didn't want to hurt the others. I grit my teeth and balled my hands into fists so hard I felt a trickle of blood run down my palm from my finger nails digging in to my hand.

I bit back a scream as fire tore through my outstretched arms. Just as before, I ended up in a desert before I could do any harm. My episode only lasted a few minutes and as soon as it was over, I collapsed to the rough sand. This time, however Devin and James appeared a few minutes after I crumpled.

My eyes closed on their own accord and the last thing I heard before I faded into black was Devin and James letting out a low string of curses.