Fallen

Chapter 8

Eliza

Something happened that night that I hadn't expected. I slept. I truly slept, with no nightmares and no waking up in a cold sweat and screaming as the shadows reached out for me. I slept like I wasn't on the run, something that I hadn't been able to do since I'd first hit the road nearly eight years ago. For once, I woke up after the sun had risen and actually felt human. It was a strange feeling, but in a good way.

I yawned and stretched, hopping off of the bed. Nathan had given me a room of my own in the back of the church. They were usually reserved for visiting priests, but he'd told me he always kept at least one open for special cases like this. At the moment, I hadn't even cared. I was just glad to have a bed and food in a place that didn't look like it was a home for out of work roaches.

I dressed quickly, splashing water on my face from the in room sink and brushing my teeth, my brain rushing to catch up to everything that had happened over the last twenty four hours. My life had always been weird, but angels and demons were out there even for me. Still, it amazed me at how calmly I was taking it. Sure, I'd been freaked out at first, but did putting a name to something that I'd always been fighting actually change anything? Maybe, maybe not. Either way, my life was still just as screwed up as ever.

I walked out of my room into the main hall. Father Nathan was there, talking to an elderly couple, smiling and nodding, patting the old woman on her hand comfortingly. Probably some crap about a God and Heaven and all that jazz. It must be comforting to believe in something like that. Nathan looked over and saw me. He waved, said goodbye to the couple, and walked over to greet me.

"Good morning," he said with a charming smile. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I slept in a bed instead of on a park bench somewhere, so pretty good," I admitted.  I looked around expectantly. "Where's your friend?"

"He's around." I raised an eyebrow for my reply. Nathan laughed loudly. "He isn't the kind that likes to sit still for very long. He's out there in the city somewhere, but that's about all I can say."

"Right," I said, falling into one of the cushioned benches. "So what do I do now? Am I free to go yet?"

"If you really wish to leave, then yes," Nathan replied, taking a seat beside me. "But, if I may ask a question, where do you intend to go?"

"Don't know. Wherever the wind takes me I guess."

"Hmm," Nathan mused thoughtfully, giving me a knowing look. "And that's worked out for you so far has it?"

"What are you trying to say?" I asked, bristling at the question. Was he trying to insult me? If he was, then he was in for a serious smack down, priest or no priest. Nathan raised his hands in surrender.

"No offense meant," he assured me, retreating. "But it seems to me like you could use a break for a few days at least. You are safe here, and I think it could be good for you to catch your breath before going on the run again."

"You might be right," I admitted grudgingly. I'd put on a tough face for the priest and his strange friend, but they'd seen right through it. To tell the truth, I was sick of running. More than that, I was just plain tired. If I hadn't run into Gavin in the subway, then I'd probably have collapsed a few blocks out of the station. That was if the demons had let me get that far before jumping me. Last night had been the first time I'd eaten a true meal or had any real sleep in weeks. Now that I'd had a taste of that, it felt that much harder to give it up.