Nephilum

Chapter 31

The next morning I was startled awake by a knock on my door. Instead of getting up though, I just rolled over and put the pillow over my head. I was beyond tired. I had gotten only a couple hours of sleep.

The knock came again and I groaned. I pulled myself out of bed and stumbled to the door and swung it open. My face transformed from an annoyed glare to one of delightful surprise.

Derek stood in front of me with a smile, despite his hard looking eyes.

"When did you get here?" I asked him. I should have been embarrassed in my oversized shirt and sweat pants, but I didn't care.

"A few hours ago. I would have woke you up earlier, but James warned me that I might die a slow, painful death."

I fought the grin that crawled into my face. "He wasn't kidding." I answered with a shrug.

"How long are you staying?" I asked as I followed him to the living room. I curled up on the couch and he sat next to me.

He shrugged. "Veronica said until Lucifer shows himself."

"So it could be a while?"

He nodded. We lapsed into a comfortable silence until he broke it.

"So how's Sam?" He looked genuinely curious even though I could definitely tell he was trying to seem nonchalant.

I grinned at him. "Sam? Oh, you know, she's good. Although I think she misses you."

I actually had no idea if she missed him since we hadn't actually been in contact, but from how she reacted when I asked her about him the last time we saw each other, something told me she like him.

Derek's face lit up. "Why would you think that?" he asked. He looked down at his nails, trying to seem uninterested.

"I'm her best friend. Trust me, I know."

"We sat in silence for a moment before deciding to try to get some information. "Derek?"

He looked at me. "Yeah?"

"This is a totally hypothetical question, but if someone could hear the voice of their father in their heads, should they tell someone? Even if they don't really want to?"

Derek raised an eyebrow. "If this someone does by chance hear their father's voice in their head, I would tell only the people who could be trusted to keep the secret." He paused for a moment. "Hypothetically of course."

I nodded, deep in thought. He was looking at me as if he could see right through me.

"And if someone did in fact have their father's voice in their head, I would strongly advise them not to listen to him." Derek continued.

The laid back atmosphere in the room stilled and suddenly it was serious. There was no more of the joking Derek who-just a few moments ago-was smiling at the thought of my best friend.

And that's when I knew with absolute certainty that I needed to talk to someone. Even if he wasn't going to like what I had to say. "Thanks." I told Derek as I hopped up from the couch and rushed into my room. I hastily changed into some jeans and a shirt.

Derek was still seated on the couch in the living room when I re-emerged. "Where is-"

"Outside." He said, cutting me off before I could ask my question. I nodded and found the front door that led outside.

I closed the door gently, as not to disturb the angel sitting on the porch steps. His eyes were closed, face tilted up towards the sun. His dirty blond hair seemed golden in the light. In that moment, he looked more like an angel than I had ever seen.

His connection to Heaven was obvious in the way his skin was perfect, not a blemish or scar to it, how rich and volumous his hair was. But there was also something about his features that hinted at his desire to do the right thing-even when that thing seemed wrong. The way he raguarded certain things gave me the impression of defiance.

Maybe it was his bright, hazel eyes that seemed to be able to read me better than I could read myself, or the strong set of his jaw.

"Are you here for a reason, or are you just going to stare at me all day?" He asked without opening his eyes. I jumped as blush started to curl around my neck and cheeks at how I had been caught checking him out.

Instead of standing there staring at him like some crazed stalker, I hesitantly sat next to him. Our knees brushed slightly and I turned to him. His dark lashes brushed the skin under his eyes.

"I need to tell you something, but I'm not sure you're going to like it." I began softly. At that, his eyes opened and he arched a perfect eyebrow. His eyes were as bright as ever as they scrutinized my face.

"Well?" he asked after a few moments of silence.

"My father can speak to me in my head."

His eyebrows shot nearly to his hair line and his eyes widened. "He what?" he asked incredolously.

"He can speak to me. He's the reason I didn't die that night at the condo. He told me how to open my wings."

A mixture of emotions were brewing on his face. Anger, fear, confusion, betrayal. "How long?" he asked in a deadly calm voice. His eyes were ablaze with a fierceness directed at me.

"It started the last time I was sent to the desert." I answered honestly.

Somehow the rage on his face increased. He seemed like he couldn't believe it. "It's been weeks. Weeks Lizzie. Are you working for him? After everything we've done to keep you safe?"

There was more than just anger in his eyes. There was hurt. He thought I had betrayed him and the angels, and somehow that bothered me more than the rage he felt. He looked defeated.

"No, James-" he cut me off, as he stood.

"Fine. You can join the demons. See if I care. Just don't get me involved."

"James, wait!" I screamed after him as he started walking. I was desperate now. He had to hear the whole story. Panic was unfurling in my chest as I realized that I may never get the chance to explain everything.

"James!" I called again as I started to run after him. Without even looking at me, he disappeared, leaving me staring into nothing but air.

"James please!" I screamed even louder. Tears were now blurring my vision. I didn't know why, but the thought that I may never see him again-it tore me apart. Piece by piece. It was the same fear I felt when James was close to dying after we saved Alex.

But this time was different; he chose to leave me.