Chapter 4: Identity

Bree

              Oh my gosh, my date Angelo, is perfect. I mean, not only is he gorgeous, but he’s highly intelligent. As I gaze into his nearly translucent blue eyes, I have to take a couple of deep breaths. He’s above six feet with broad shoulders and golden skin. His chiseled jaw and high cheekbones are quite impressive. Yet, I can’t stop thinking that I wish his dark hair was longer, his skin was lighter, and his eyes were silver instead of blue.

              Damn it! I have got to get it together.

              Sadness instantly threatens to overwhelm me at that moment. Here I am with the perfect man, and all I can think about is Fallon. 

              I look into my date’s gorgeous sky-colored eyes and sift my fingers through my hair, trying to shake off this grim feeling. “Do you want to get out of here?” I spit out without a thought.

              My date arches a brow and shrugs his shoulders. “Alright. How about I walk you home.”

              I don’t hesitate to follow him out the door. As we make our way to my apartment, we talk about normal things. It’s nice. However, I can’t stop a small part of me from thinking that he’s too…much. Like he’s too handsome and too…perfect, which sets off all kinds of alarms in my head. But I try not to worry.

              Before I went to the bar, I used my ring to make sure he was human. Thankfully, the ring didn’t glow. There was not even a flicker, which hyped up my confidence. I can handle a human man. Zoe and I took self-defense classes, and her boyfriend, Azazel, has rigorously trained us in fighting techniques for months.

              Angelo’s hand settles on my hip as he maneuvers me to the alley near my building. The back of my neck prickles with every step that I take, which makes me wary. I feel like I’m being watched, and I’m not sure if I like it or hate it because, on some occasions, I could feel Fallon following me, and in a few, it was some crazy psycho out to kill me. Yeah, my life is crazy complicated.

              “…you?” My date’s voice cuts through my inner thoughts.

              My head snaps in his direction as I try to recall what he just said. “What?”

              His luscious lips curl with mirth, and his short hair flutters with the slight breeze. Angelo crosses his arms in front of his broad chest, making his red cashmere sweater molds to his powerful pectorals.

              “I said, you should let me in and let me make love to you.”

              My heart skips a beat at his direct words. He wants to have sex, and based on the thick bulge behind the zipper of his black slacks, I’m sure it will be worth my while.

              Unfortunately, even though my body is ready, my heart shies away from the idea.

              Biting my lip, I try to come up with a plausible excuse for letting him down. Just thinking about turning him down makes me feel stupid. I mean, there’s this perfect specimen of a man ready to rid me of my virginal burden, and I’m having second thoughts.

              What the hell is wrong with me?

               “Umm…listen, Angelo, I…umm…I think I’m just going to go upstairs…alone. It’s late, and─”

              “Or, you can let me take you to bed.” Angelo’s smile widens into a sly one as his gaze roams across my body appraisingly. He reminds me of a shark hunting its prey. “You are quite beautiful.”

              At his words, my eyes widen. “What...?”

              Angelo nods his head. “I have to say you’re a lot more beautiful than I expected you to be ─for a human. I would love to taste you.”

              Dread courses through me, making my body grow cold as the realization of what is happening dawns on me.

              He said human.

              I look down at my ring and frown. The gem is not glowing. How is that possible?

              Taking a step back, I try to keep my panic from overwhelming me.

              “Umm…you know…I-I should probably go. My friend’s─”

              “No,” Angelo cuts me off, his expression becoming sharp. “I don’t think you should. I think you should come with me.” His hand glides down my arm making my skin heat. Eyes wide, I gulp loudly as torrents of desire suddenly wash over me.  

              Angelo doesn’t look at my shocked reaction as he strides closer and sheds his human disguise. His red sweater and slacks begin to shift and change until he is covered in fiery red scales. Large gold wings sprout from his back, and his head is covered in some kind of medieval helmet, like the ones in the movie with the Trojan warriors.

              He’s magnificent but also scary.

              My body thrums with desire as he comes closer.

              I want him to come to me, but something tells me that this is not right. My reaction feels good but also wrong.

              The feeling grows as Angelo moves closer, his intense eyes ensnaring mine. “You want this, don’t you?” He whispers before he crushes his lips against mine. The kiss is intense and pleasurable, but something draws me back.

              Still reeling from the kiss, I push away and stumble back. My body throbs painfully, and my vision hazes. I feel drunk.

              This is not right!

              Without a thought, I turn around and run down the dark alley. Laughter follows behind me, making goosebumps burst across my body. My heart pounds wildly in my chest as I stumble through the cracked sidewalk, my heels making me lose my balance. My breath hitches as the sounds of something large fluttering above me reaches my ears. Looking up, I see a large shadow flying above me.

              I know that Azazel and Fallon have wings, but a strong feeling in my chest tells me that it’s neither man floating above me. I just don’t understand why the ring didn’t work on him.

              The thump of a body landing in front of me stops me in my tracks. Backing away, I search the darkness and cry out when my heel gets caught in between one of the cracks in the ground. My ankle aches and my toes throb, but I don’t let it stop my retreat.

              Keeping one eye on the shadow, I try to search for a door or weapon that I can use.

              “There’s nowhere for you to go, Bree. Just give in. I promise I will make it an experience that you will never forget.” Angelo’s booming voice echoes through the darkness.

              The sound of my heavy breathing booms through my ears as I continue to back away, but his footsteps follow my retreating ones. I feel like a caged animal as I turn and topple garbage bins, spilling all of the contents on the soiled ground. The smell of rotten meat and musk makes me cringe, but I don’t stop. I know that if I do, he’ll catch me.

              As the footsteps grow nearer, I rush to a nearby building, but before I can run in, two strong arms wrap around me. “Let me go!” I scream and flail.

              Angelo holds tightly to me, his claws digging into my sides as he begins to fly off with me held tightly in his arms. I might as well be an ant with how easily he subdues me with his superhuman strength.

              As my feet leave the ground, I increase my struggles. I know that if he carries me away, I won’t be able to escape from wherever he is taking me. That’s when I remember the pepper spray inside of my bag. We’re pretty far from the ground when my hand finds the pepper spray. Using all of my strength, I release one of my arms and aim the spray at his face, hoping that it will work.

              Once the spray hits his face, Angelo cries out with an enraged growl and releases me.

              My legs thrash around me as my body descends to the ground. Considering how far he flew, I know that my fall is going to be bad. Closing my eyes, I stifle a cry as my body descends. Thankfully, I’m hurled into a cluster of garbage bags. My teeth rattle, and my knees pop, but nothing breaks because the overly full garbage bags break my fall.

              Looking up, I can see Angelo holding his eyes, his body fluttering erratically around him.

              I don’t waste another moment waiting to see if he recovers. Rising from my perch, I gather up my things and run.

              I don’t know how long I run, but I get pretty far, considering that I’m in heels. Sweat runs down my back, and my lungs are burning from my heavy breathing. Squatting down, I place my palms on my knees and take a couple of deep breaths. My feet ache, and my legs feel like jello.

              Once I catch my breath, I glance around me. The residential street that I stopped in is dark and empty. All I can hear is the sound of leaves fluttering, owls hooting, and a cricket’s mating call. I keep a wary eye around me as I stride down the empty streets. The houses are your typical middle-class cookie-cutter cottages with swing sets and white picket fences.

              Not knowing what else to do, I reach for my cell phone. At first, I consider calling Zoe but quickly reconsider. What would I tell her? Hey, Zoe, even though everyone told me that it wouldn’t be a good idea, I went on a date, and he turned out to be some crazy supernatural who wants to impregnate me.

              Yeah, that’ll go well.

              Either way, Zoe is not an option since she’s out of town.

              A whooshing sound in the distance startles me from my mental reprimand, cementing my decision to find help.

              As I stumble down the street, I blink my eyes and try to clear my vision. I’m still feeling the effects of Angelo’s kiss, and my body is thrumming. Rubbing my thighs together, I try to ease the throbbing between my legs.

              Sweat gathers across my body, amplifying my need. It’s nearly unbearable. My dress rubs against nipples, making them tingle and strain against the material.

              Looking around desperately, I slip off my shoes and hide at a nearby convenience store. I don’t know how long I wait. What feels like hours is probably thirty minutes. Eventually, I take an Uber and find myself in front of Fallon’s house. I’ve only been here once, but somehow, I remembered how I got here.

              All I know is that I have nowhere else to go. At this point, exhaustion threatens to outweigh my sense of security. My dress clings to my body like a second skin, and tendrils of my hair stick to my neck. I’m surprised that the driver doesn’t comment on my appearance.

              Vision wavering, I manage to go up the stairs and begin to pound on the door. “Fallon!” I call out. “Open the door, please!”

              After what feels like seconds but is only minutes, the door opens, revealing the most gorgeous sight I have ever seen. Fallon’s hair is wet and slicked back, his chest is bare, and his jeans mold to his body perfectly.

              “Bree?” He asks, surprised.

              I open my mouth and manage to slur out. “He’s after me. He wants…” I fall into his arms, and everything goes black.