Starfire Angels (Starfire Angels: Dark Angel Chronicles Book 1) Page 3

  At a sudden pressure that built up in her head, Raea blinked and rubbed her temples. She never had headaches. Why now? Not only did Elis cause problems when he touched her, but now he could curse her from a distance?

  Under the drone of lunchroom conversations, numerous voices whispered in discord too low to understand. "What?"

  "Huh?" Josh frowned.

  "Not you."

  "What's wrong?" Jess's hand rubbed her shoulder. Ordinarily, the concern of her friend would have helped, but not this time.

  Not with this. The strange voices split her head with pain while no one else reacted. Didn't the others hear?

  They watched her with concerned looks. "I'm fine. Just a headache." And strange voices, which, apparently, only she heard. Not exactly something she wanted the world to know.

  The whispers grew louder but the words jumbled together. Who are you and what do you want? Speak up. I can't understand. Her head hurt. The fluorescent lights made it worse, along with the noise in the lunchroom. She had to lie down.

  After shoving her unfinished tray of food aside, Raea laid her head on her arms. Good enough for now. She probably couldn't even walk home to reach her bed.

  "Raea, are you all right?" Linds asked.

  "No—My. Head. Hurts."

  "This is sudden. You look terrible."

  Thanks, Jess. Raea groaned. The pain worsened every second, and the voices didn't help. She still couldn't make them out through the dissonance.

  The tap of steps stopped behind her. A gentle rubbing on her neck massaged the aching away. "Mmm...Keep that up." She put her forehead to the table, exposing her neck to the pleasant massage parting her hair into a curtain on each side of her face. Tingles of pleasant relaxation flowed down her neck.

  "Ah...Of course," Josh said.

  With each second, the voices and headache faded. She could have let him massage her neck all day like that. What a relief. Too bad he stopped, just when she really enjoyed it too.

  "Miss Dahlrich?"

  Raea lifted her head. No pain. Man, that felt better. Josh sat down fast again. She didn't even hear him slide his chair.

  Or was it him? No. Mrs. MacRabb did not just massage her neck.

  "Are you all right?" the old teacher asked. With her wide thighs and cheeks that sagged like melted wax, there was no mistaking the old English teacher, the last person Raea wanted to see. No. Please, not her. She'd never live down the teasing to the end of the year. "I'm fine. Thanks."

  "You sure?"

  "Yes." Just leave me alone and let me crawl under a rock to die. She dropped her head back to the table.

  "You let someone know if you're not well."

  "I will. Thanks."

  Jess took her place again and Mrs. MacRabb walked away.

  "He must have the magic touch," Linds said.

  He? Then, not the old English teacher? But... "Who? Josh?"

  "Um...No."

  Raea lifted her head. Who else had relieved her headache?

  Josh's eyebrows lifted and his eyes slipped away. "Not me. Him."

  Raea turned and saw Elis leaving the lunchroom. Impossible. Why did he do it? How had he done it? Her headache and the voices disappeared. She couldn't believe it, especially when it contradicted what happened yesterday. "You can't be serious."

  Josh's nod said he was serious.

  "Why didn't you say something?" Josh of all people. He knew how she felt about what happened yesterday.

  "He asked us to keep quiet." He put a finger to his lips.

  "And you let him, after what we talked about? Josh, how could you?"

  He shrugged. "It looked like he knew what he was doing. You needed something."

  And what was Linds doing while this was going on? She could have said something.

  "Don't look at me. I agree with both of you. He is kinda creepy, but you have to admit that whatever he did, it made you feel better." She shrugged.

  "I know, but...you know?" Linds knew what she meant.

  "Yeah. But it's done."

  "I think I'd rather have the headache," Raea mumbled. In spite of her words, she felt some gratitude. Linds and Josh were both right. Maybe Elis was just trying to make up for bumping her yesterday morning. If that was the case, she accepted it. But the payback had been done. He didn't need to try any more. "I'll be sure to thank him."

  "You looked like you enjoyed it." Linds grinned and crossed her arms over the UND logo on her sweatshirt.

  Warmth rose from under Raea's collar. That was the last thing she needed anyone thinking. Sure, she had enjoyed it, but no one needed to know. Had it been that obvious? But she only liked it because it took away the headache. That was it. Nothing more.

  But no one else would see it that way. This was worse than if a teacher had touched her. Hurry up, graduation.

  "Hey." Jess poked her in the ribs.

  "Ow." Raea rubbed her side. Jess didn't have to nudge her that hard. "What?"

  "Look what just entered the cafeteria."

  Raea turned to where Jess pointed, and her heart stopped. Pallin. Hottest thing since…well…no one else. Who cared about that gray turtleneck and gray pants formal preppy look? He looked right at her—her—and smiled. The heat rose to her cheeks and she turned away. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach.

  "Did you see the look he gave you?"

  Could Jess whisper any louder? Honestly. What was the point of whispering?

  "Yes." She was going to be sick from anxiety. Why did she have to look?

  Linds chuckled. "What's wrong?"

  "I…Why me? I can't talk to him."

  "We're here," Josh said. "You're not alone. Right, ladies?"

  Linds gulped down a mouthful of food. "Right."

  "Yeah," Jess said. That's all she could say? Jess, the talker?

  "Just take a deep breath...That's it. Now another."

  Easy for Josh to say. He wasn't the one under the microscope. Still, the breathing calmed her, if only a little.

  "What's he doing?" She couldn't look up. What if he looked at her again? Her stomach twisted into knots.

  "Ah..." Linds stared past her, her spoon frozen before her gaping mouth.

  "Hello."

  Raea jumped as if shocked, unable to look up.

  "I may join you?"

  That accent and funny English made her giddy while triggering a nagging sense of familiarity. Where had she heard it before? She'd heard it recently too, but in her flustered brain, couldn't pin it down.

  "It's Pallin, right?" Josh asked.

  A tray scraped on the tabletop. Oh, no. Not here. Her appetite vanished.

  "Yes. I am not remembering names."

  "I'm Josh. These lovely ladies are Lindsey, Jessica, and Raea. To what do we owe this honor?"

  "I have chance to speak to Raea."

  He was interested in her. She couldn't avoid it any longer. Raea took a deep breath and turned to face him. She'd be damned if she could speak, though. Her mouth went dry when he smiled, and her thoughts jumbled.

  "You are pretty girl," he said.

  Did he just say she was pretty? Ohmygod. "Thanks." Good one, idiot. That's all you can say?

  "You are welcome."

  Her breath caught in her throat.

  "How do you like it here, so far?" Linds asked.

  Thank you, Linds. Sooner or later, Raea would have to overcome the disconnect between her brain and her mouth and speak for herself.

  "It is nice place, much peace but cold."

  "McClarron is a happy little community." Josh's sarcasm passed for perkiness. She was going to hurl if he did it again.

  "Yes. Many good people I meet. I would like to know more about you." Pallin's amber eyes studied Raea all the while he spoke.

  The temperature in the lunchroom rose to unbearably warm, and she couldn't even look him in the eyes. The intensity of his gaze when she did sent her collapsing into herself. He wasn't like anyone she knew. Rather, he possessed the confidence of someone much older and s
he saw it in those eyes.

  "You speak?" Pallin asked.

  "Um…Yeah." Although her mouth seemed to quit working the last few minutes.

  "Then we can having time together?"

  Okay. No one had ever asked her out before, but Pallin, who could have had any girl in school, asked her? Hell must have frozen over, which was quite likely after that winter, but she wouldn't argue. "Yeah. I'd like that."

  * * *

  For the rest of the night, Raea could think of nothing but Pallin. He had been in two of her afternoon classes and they talked between. After school, she gave him her number to call her at home. He said he stayed at the local hotel, so he had a phone available.

  She paced in her room, unable to focus on her homework. After ten and he hadn't called yet. Didn't he know how to use a phone? Had something happened?

  No. She couldn't think that. He might be foreign, but he didn't seem stupid. In fact, he sounded pretty sharp for someone having difficulty speaking English. He was going to school while the others—parents, she guessed—had business in McClarron. He traveled with them, experiencing the military life, which explained his behavior. That she understood. Others had passed in and out of their school. But what would the military want in a small town of four thousand?

  She couldn't wait to see him in school tomorrow.

  Her anxiety turned to fidgeting. Enough sitting in her room. She had to do something, anything. Even watching the news with Debbie would be better than laying in bed waiting and wondering.

  Raea wandered down to the open main floor, where the furniture divided the living room from the dining room and foyer.

  "You better get to bed." Debbie looked up from the couch, where she sat alone. Mike must have worked on the computer in another room.

  "I can't sleep." Thoughts of Pallin circled through her head. She wanted to see him again. School wasn't good enough—too many people listening or watching. She needed a chance to go on a date, a real date. Why hadn't he called?

  "Is something wrong?"

  "No, just excited." Raea fell onto the chair to watch the news. Some television might help her get her mind off her anxieties.

  The local anchor wore a somber expression on her pretty face. "Ryan Lake found his parents dead in their McClarron home when he arrived to visit for the weekend. Local authorities have reported no bullets found in their initial investigation, although the couple had both clearly been shot in their chests. No suspects have yet been considered, but police are continuing to investigate."

  "That's depressing." Why couldn't the news report something upbeat? Then again, there wasn't much else to talk about in a small town, even if the station was out of Bismarck. Murder rarely happened there, so it was big news. She didn't want to hear about it though, especially when she remembered Ryan before he graduated and how fair he treated everyone.

  "I can't believe it. That's Linda and Dean. I work with her older sister, Sheri. Poor Ryan. I'll bet he's having a hard time."

  Debbie knew them? Then again, who didn't Debbie know? "Yeah." Raea could relate to losing one's parents. She sympathized with the guy.

  "I can't believe this. They're good people. Who would want to murder them? I thought the cold was supposed to keep the riffraff out," Debbie said.

  "Yeah. You'd think." Why were her parents in the storm thirteen years ago? That's what Raea wanted to know, but the only answer she would ever have was a tornado. No "riffraff" as Debbie put it, just bad luck and weather.

  "I know it's not easy. I miss Scott too."

  Raea missed them every day, but now wasn't the time to think about it. That made her think of the visions and the dreams. Raea didn't want to fall into that grief. Not now. Now, she wanted a distraction. She wanted to think about Pallin.

  Raea jumped from the chair and curled up next to Debbie on the couch. The warmth felt good in the chilly room, but Debbie's arm around her felt better. "I'm glad I have you."

  "I'm glad to have you too. What's with the sudden buttering up?"

  "I never ever want you to die."

  Debbie laughed. "I hope not."

  "I love you, Debbie." Raea planted a big kiss on her aunt's cheek and laid her head on her shoulder. See what she thought of that.

  "You're in a good mood suddenly."

  "Yup." She didn't want to think of her parents, not with Pallin to look forward to seeing.

  "Must be feeling better."

  "Mm. Hmm."

  "Something happen today?" The suspicious voice.

  Uh, oh. Raea had gone too far. But part of her wanted to tell Debbie. The excitement ate through her desire to keep it secret. She couldn't stop herself. "We have this new guy at school. He's totally hot and is into me. Me. For once in my life, a guy likes me." Her, the "freak" of McClarron with the strange hands. Most of her classmates had grown up, but the underclassmen always whispered.

  "Well...That explains this giddiness. No wonder you can't sit still."

  "Nope." Raea hugged her aunt's arm and snuggled close. Debbie had to be on her side. She just had to. Debbie usually played devil's advocate and tried to scare her from decisions that thrilled her. This time had to be different.

  "New kid at school, huh? So..."

  "So..." Raea's tongue loosened. She went into all the details about Pallin, and when she finished, Debbie focused on the TV.

  Not good. That somber mood meant devil's advocate. "Just don't lose your head over this guy. He may move on to someone else when he leaves."

  That was the last thing Raea wanted to hear. Her enthusiasm shriveled like a deflated balloon.

  "Or he could be planning to use you."

  Oh, no. Here it came—the lecture. Why did Debbie always have to see the negative? Why couldn't she be happy about Raea's life, just once?

  "Just be careful."

  That was it? Yes! "I will. But if Pallin calls, please don't let Dave talk to him?"

  Debbie smiled. "I'll be sure to hand the phone to him immediately."

  "Debbie."

  Of course, her aunt wouldn't. The wink she gave and the kiss on Raea's forehead confirmed that she was teasing.

  "He'll never know."

  "Thanks, Debbie." Raea stayed up until she dozed off next to her aunt, who nudged her and told her to go to bed.

  Raea yawned and said, "Good night." The stairs must have grown, or the house had. Her bedroom had moved too far away, along with the soft bed inside it.

  She finally arrived and crashed not long after her head hit the pillow. One last thought passed through her mind—was Pallin too good to be true?

  Angel Wings

  Black-clad figures approached from a distance. They cast a dark shadow that sent others fleeing.

  Padina stood on a balcony looking out over a bustling city brushed by the sun, her open-front skirt flapping around her light blue leggings. Entire structures floated at different levels, rounded towers dozens of floors high unattached to anything else. Hundreds of angels flew through the skies.

  But the black-clad group stood out in their threat.

  ["Jerantis!"] The scene blurred and finally stopped, looking into a simple apartment.

  The man came running from inside and gazed beyond the scene. ["Larantan forces should have stopped them, unless..."] He gasped. ["Go!"]

  They dropped from the balcony and spread their wings. A crash sounded from behind.

  Black-clad figures rushed from the apartment balcony they vacated moments ago.

  ["Fly! Don't look back."]

  They soared over the city and beyond the outer towers. Ocean stretched below. An island floated serenely in the distance among the clouds.

  ["Where are we going?"] Padina shouted.

  ["The safest place we can. Open a portal."]

  The dreaded black clad figures closed in fast.

  Padina spread her brown and white speckled wings and called forth a power that set the marks on her hands aglow. In the sky above, lightening crackled and snapped around a growing ball of light.


  She slowed her flight, her eyes fixed on the ball, which darkened into a black nothingness not far from her and exploded outward into a spiraling black hole. Her hands glowed yet.

  ["Hurry!"] Jerantis shouted.

  Padina focused on the void until it grew in diameter to three times her height. There it ceased its growth.

  ["It's done. The portal is ready. Let's go."]

  ["You go. I'll be right behind."]

  She hesitated and flew close to him. The black formation split apart. Some held back while the others moved around them.

  ["Go. Now,"] he said.

  ["I won't leave you!"]

  He flew close and kissed her. ["Padina. You are the one they seek. You must protect the Starfire. It's your duty as a Crystal Keeper."] He glanced around them at the closing circle of soldiers. ["Go on. I'll make sure the portal is closing before I go through, so they can't follow. Hurry."] He pushed her away.

  She flew to the portal but hesitated at the brink and turned.

  Shots flashed from two of the flyers.

  ["Jerantis!"] For a moment, she fell with the stiffening of her wings.

  After recovering from the plummeting of the man, she turned and fled into the darkness.

  The dream again. Raea tried to take control as Josh had suggested, but the voices admonished her, or seemed to. They forced her to watch. She could change nothing. When her mother disappeared into the void, or portal, she gasped.

  The voices roared in her head like a crowd at a concert. I can't understand you. Stop shouting at the same time!

  In answer, a burning pain shot through her, ripping out her back. Raea screamed in agony. Tears of pain stung her eyes. What are you doing to me? What do you want?

  The voices lowered, whispering among themselves as the pain subsided.

  Raea blinked at the dark of night and wiped her eyes. Wetness cooled her fingertips. Tears. Then it hadn't been a dream. She had really been crying.