Defiance: Perfect by Nature

Chapter Two: Secrets Exposed

Chapter Two: Secrets Exposed

James was gently pulled from his troubled sleep, the visions of what might come to pass flashing by his eyes as he struggled to get a grip on reality. Someone had softly shaken him until he woke, and focusing on the bright room he searched for whoever it had been. A short, lithe and insanely beautiful woman with short, mousy brown hair stood beside his bed, her big hazel eyes shimmering as she looked upon her half asleep brother. Athena looked troubled as James brushed the sleep from his eyes and sat up in bed, taking in her impeccable, albeit plain clothes that fit her tight body like a glove.

“Who’s Amy?” she asked in her lyrical voice.

“She’s a friend. What are you doing here Athena?” he asked gingerly, pulling a white shirt over his naked torso.

The young immortal blinked at him and continued, “I’m known as Catherine now, so call me Cat. Now answer my question Gabriel, who is Amy? You kept repeating her name in your sleep.”

“Why were you watching me sleep? And I go by James now.”

James pulled himself out of bed and drained the last of his energy drink that sat on his desk, hoping the rush would clear his mind a little. “I thought you, out of all of us, would understand that consorting with a mortal is forbidden!” She accused, her face turning hard. “And I will call you Gabriel! I may not agree with your banishment, but I must abide by our laws. You will always be Gabriel to us!”

James sighed in frustration, realizing that his sister had not changed much in the many years since he had last seen her. She was always a stickler for the rules and sometimes it rubbed him the wrong way, but he also knew that she was still his friend; even though she shouldn’t be. That was partially because his banishment hadn’t been on the level, but also because they were drawn to one another and she just couldn’t help it sometimes.

“I’m no longer one of you Cat, so I don’t think those laws apply to me anymore. Now, will you please tell me why you are here? And where is Erin?”

Catherine ignored his request for a moment, choosing to rummage through his belongings with curious eyes. He remembered her as being the sheltered one of the group, preferring to remain aloof from mortals. While their other brothers and sisters would often walk among the lesser beings, participating in their wars and making their chosen names at the name known to every person, Catherine would stay behind in her little sanctuary, where she would do, well James wasn’t really sure what she would do. They barely talked during those times. They had been cordial to one another, but she always seemed distant; or even more so, disinterested.

“That was quite the little stunt you pulled at the council,” she said softly as she picked up a pair of pants and gazed at them with interest. “Almost like a repeat of history long past. You do realize you almost got yourself and Erin killed?”

“I wasn’t entirely responsible,” he defended. “She brought me there without my permission.”

“Yes, she told me. However, you did strike Ares in the middle of his realm. But it matters little now. Erin asked me to keep an eye on you. She fears Ares is doing the same with her, so she can’t come to you until she is certain he is not looking.”