Fate's Demand (Twisted Fate, Book 3)

Chapter Three

A minute of silence stretched between us. I looked up at Raffy and, I don't know if it was because he looked so serious or because the suggestion was so ludicrous, but I burst out laughing. Deep, gut-wrenching laughter. The kind that brought tears to your eyes and made your stomach ache because you just can't stop. I darted my eyes between them. Why aren't they laughing?

Of course. How could I have forgotten?

The humour he'd dropped down over the last year was an act. It said a lot about what he thought of humans, if you ask me. As an angel who no longer pretended to be mortal, his had personality left without a trace of it having ever existed. I bet all three of my so-called boys had reverted to the monotonous drone of the voice, my visionless panel of judgement that had orchestrated my return to life when dying had been a weekly occurrence, almost like a hobby that I had tried only to set aside. Death really wasn't that scary; it simply wasn't fun. And the whole coming back to life thing? So exhausting.

Since remembering, I don't know how many times in the last twenty-four hours I wished to have been left in a state of ignorance.

Why can't they leave me alone? My lips pressed shut to suppress my laughter, and I caught Raffy's eye. "You cannot be serious."

"Why is this funny to you?" he asked and tilted his head.

"Because it's ridiculous!" Rolling my eyes, I raised my arms to shoulder level and then dropped my palms to smack my knees. "How can you expect me not to laugh, Raffy?" It was better than what I wanted to scream into his ear. "I am not going there. Nope, I am going to sit here. Then you know what I'm going to do? I'm gonna go on home and prepare for graduation. You know, get my diploma? Then I'm spending my summer getting a tan ready for when I start college." I nodded. "That's all I'm doing."

"This is for your safety."

"Really?" I licked my lips and nodded, staring at the table. A moment later, I looked up again. All of my humor was gone, and I held Raffy's gaze while watching Suzie out of the corner of my eyes. "The only way you're going to get me to go is by kidnapping me. I suspect that's probably more wrong than good, though, right? You wouldn't dare compromise that good little obedient light inside ya, would you?" I squinted my eyes and pinched my fingers towards his midsection, and then dropped them. "Now go away."

"No."

"You guys already ruined my birthday," I said. "I would like to celebrate now, so go away."

Suzie hissed, leaning forward with wide eyes. "Aly!"

"What?" I rolled my eyes when she nodded to Raffy, but unlike her, I wasn't forced to obey. Even—or maybe especially—if they wanted me to think I should. "Oh, come on, Suzie. Seriously? He came here to protect me. He's not going to hurt me for bruising his ego."

"Why wouldn't you want to go? It might be kind of cool."

"I'm human, Suzie. Humans don't go to Heaven unless they die. I really, really, as in sell-my-soul-for-an-extra-day don't want to do that again." Though I was dying to say yes. David said I would visit him. Was this my chance? Was I blowing the only opportunity I would have to be with him outside of my dreams? I shook the thought out of my head so that I wouldn't cave. I am needed here.

Suzie looked to Raffy. "Does she have to die to go?"

He shook his head.

She turned to me. "See? You can totally go now."

It was easy for her to say. She hadn't had it all dumped on her just a few hours ago. Time to digest would be nice, not just an, "Oh, by the way..." What else did they expect from me? They might have saved me, but I had a feeling they were part of the reason that I was in danger to begin with. The judicial system dealt with murderers because their victims were unable to exact vengeance. Obviously, I wasn't restricted by death. While I wouldn't be looking for an eye for an eye—against my 'boys' for their part in what had happened to me or the Elixir students I now recalled being worse than I ever could have imagine—I wouldn't be taking orders.

"How did you know where we were, Raffy?" I kept my gaze on Suzie for signs of guilt. There wasn't, but she'd caught me checking. Hurt over my obvious distrust illuminated her eyes. Sorry.

"The bartender knew who you were just by looking at you, Aly. That is the point I'm trying to make, if you'll just listen." He raked his hand through his dark wavy hair and sighed.

A glance at the bar showed no sign of the traitorous man, but at least now I knew why he'd served us. It only made me feel slightly better that it wasn't because of Suzie for a change. "I don't want to go."

"Well, you aren't safe here," he said and shifted his weight.

Okay, seriously? I loved logic—anything that could be explained—but I hated when it was used against me. If I wasn't petrified of public speaking, I would have loved debate. This sucks. I didn't ask for this. I didn't want it, and I sure as hell hadn't accepted it, even though it seemed I may not have any choice. I mean, if I refused, I'd probably die. Then again, I'd rather die young and live a happily-ever-afterlife instead of eternal damnation because I could have done something good and refused.

"Fine." I sighed and turned so that I faced forward. I winked at Suzie. "I'll think about it."

"We need to go," he urged. "Now."

"Big. Whoop. I'm not missing grad and the only way I'm going is if Suzie comes with me," I bargained. What good was giving someone what they wanted without getting something in return? Good job, Aly.

"Seriously? You'd bring me to Heaven?" Suzie's eyes lit up, and I would bet if something was said about Deryk, she'd be like, "Deryk who?"

Leaning back, I tipped my head backwards and smiled at Raffy as I balanced on the hind legs of the chair. "Those are my terms. Now go away so I can enjoy my belated birthday." I stopped teetering and allowed the front legs to slam to the floor, hardening my tone. "Make it work, Raffy, or I'm not going."

He looked at me for a long moment and then nodded. I heard him muttering in a foreign tongue I couldn't understand as he walked away, though it wasn't hard to imagine what he was fretting about. His movements screamed annoyance, though he was graceful as he made his way into the back of the bar instead of leaving in the same fashion as he'd arrived.

A part of me was happy with the way we'd just ended it, though I wasn't happy that the Alyssa watch had likely resumed. Mike, Gabe, and Raffy had done it before: one stayed guard while the other two went to find and destroy the things that threatened me—Darkness, or whatever body it happened to be inhabiting. I wondered when there'd be a shift change? How they ever imagined that they could protect me from a world made of shadows was beyond my comprehension. As far as I could figure, the only way to make sure that Darkness couldn't have me would be to kill me first, which is exactly what Raffy had argued.

"Let's go, Suze," I said and stood, leaving my drink untouched. "This is no fun anymore."

Clouds weren't silver, not in my reality. Just black or white. I was reality's silver cloud, tinged with blue and white. Right now, my silver lining was black as, once again, my plans to celebrate my birthday were crapped on.

Since things seemed to happen in threes, maybe next year the fourth attempt to celebrate would be successful, or I might as well stop trying.

If I was still alive.

A/N: Happy updating! I am now done my exams until July when I have two more :( Happy note is that I am taking a week or two off before hitting the books again, and I can get a lot written in that time frame! :)

Who are you more excited to see again? Gabe or Mike?