The Fallen Ones Page 5

CHAPTER 4

  Ilyana:

  After what feels like barely any time at all we arrive at Levi’s cabin, it is old and cozy looking in its own right. There is a small garden off to the side and there are vines growing up the side facing the sun. I immediately feel safe and start to relax. I look around me and see that it is only Ephraim with me. The realization makes me tense up and as soon as he notices, he looks to the ground and offers me his hand to get off the ATV, I take it and thank him. For a moment I don’t know what to say, as distant as he can be, there is something so comfortable about him I nod to his ATV “Where is Alya?” he scratches the back of his head and looks at me “She felt it would be best if she went ahead of us to the Enclave, to begin preparing for your arrival, we knew you would be coming our way eventually, but this has progressed at a speed I don’t think any of us were prepared for.”

  I nod my head and realize we are already at the door and I am still holding his hand. I immediately and awkwardly let go as Ephraim reaches to knock on the door. Ephraim catches my actions and for a moment I think he looks upset. After a few moments of no one answering, he turns the handle and goes in “Stay close behind me, I don’t see him, but I want to make sure everything is ok.” I step over the threshold behind him as we slowly walk around the house “I don’t sense anyone here, he must be out catching dinner.”  For some reason I feel relieved, my nerves are raw and meeting someone new isn’t exactly something I want to do right now. “Well, if he isn’t here, should we really be here? I don’t want to intrude on anyone.” He laughs under his breath and raises his eyebrow at me, I look at him quizzically and wait for him to explain but he just stops abruptly and starts walking to a small room across from the main bedroom. “Here is the room you can use, there should be a full bathroom through that door and the closet should have some clothes that you can fit. Make yourself at home, I am going to go find Levi. It is still early so he shouldn’t be back for some time, take as long as you need.” He turns to walk out the door and shuts it behind him, the room immediately feels empty without him. Whenever he is in the room his energy takes up all the space, I struggle to focus and breathe when he is around me, but his absence leaves an emptiness I can’t explain, how can he put me so on edge and at the same time bring such a sense of peace? Maybe it is one of his gifts.

  I walk over to the closet and find the strangest combination of clothes, many of them look older than me, but there are new packs of tank tops, t-shirts & underwear. I finally settle on a dark pair of jeans, usually pants are short on me, but I believe they should be the right length. I search the bathroom and am relieved to find a full garden tub, and lots of girly smelling concoctions that look like soap or bubble bath. I settle for lavender – it’s calming, and I need calm right now. I take off my too big pants, and awkwardly fitting tank top and begin to sink into the bath tub, I almost instantly feel better, I lay back for what feels like only a few minutes and before I know it I open my eyes to find that it is starting to get dark outside and my water has gone cold. I must’ve fallen asleep.

  I begin to let the water out and step out, I reach for the towel rack and pull out what I had believed to be a towel only to discover that it is nothing more than a small hand towel, I remember the small closet outside the bathroom door and almost groan. I decide to practice my new senses and see if I can detect anyone at the house, I don’t think anyone is there and after I listen for a moment, I decide to make a run for it. I race for the closet without looking and immediately run into a man I have never seen before. I scream in horror and he smirks at me in amusement “Well, I thought this was going to go quite a lot differently but this is a pleasant surprise!” he says with a Irish sounding lilt I can feel my face redden and I begin to reach past him to the closet while muttering apologies only to hear the bedroom door slam open and see Ephraim racing towards me.

  It all happens before I know it, the man I presume to be Levi is grabbing me and pushing me behind him for cover and Ephraim is charging towards him in anger, he quickly pushes him out of the way and plasters himself against me, I would be relieved but now I am even further from the closet and towels I am so desperately wanting, my body is not visible anymore but I am acutely aware of the fact that the only thing between myself and the most beautiful man I have ever seen is a thin layer of his clothing and there is an Irishman that won’t stop laughing.

  Ephraim is the first to speak, I can see his body relaxing and he laughs a full, laugh that shakes his entire body “Ah, Levi, I can’t believe it’s you! I was looking everywhere for you as soon as I got here but I just couldn’t find you, I was worried the wild had finally gotten to you.” I feel slightly shocked, I have seen angry Ephraim, scary Ephraim and maybe even smug, sarcastic Ephraim, but I have never seen “bromance” Ephraim. The lightening of his mood is palpable. “Ay, Brother. No need to worry about me here in my little corner, safe as can be! I have been worried about you, out there chasing down the big bad wolf, it’s been too long. But I can see you’ve had your hands full with other things.” He nods to Ephraims arm that is protectively covering me and I feel all the heat rise to my face both of them begin to laugh hardily and I seize the opportunity to race and grab a towel and run to the bathroom.

  I decide the best course of action is to dress myself and pretend like nothing happened, I also make a mental note to never trust my awesome Nephilim sensing “gifts” ever again. I dress myself completely and take as long as possible before going out, my hair is almost fully dry and I smell something delicious cooking. I start towards the living room and feel my cheeks beginning to redden again. I have never felt so small or uncomfortable in my entire life. I try to get Sasha’s attention, I realize the men are distracted messing with the fire and she is lapping up all the attention she can get from Levi. She ignores me and as stupid as it is I begin to feel jealous, for the first time ever I can see Levi’s face. He is Ephraim’s opposite in every way, he has lines in his face from smiling, a strong, pointy nose, dark blonde hair and light blue eyes, I even see a few freckles, I never thought of freckles as attractive but on him it fits perfectly. He is tan from the sun and has some stubble on his face. He is warm and inviting and exciting. As I am taking everything in - I feel someone watching me and notice Ephraim staring at me from the distance, he looks dangerous, primal and perhaps something else, jealous? My heart stops beating for a moment and my skin begins to flush, I instantly feel more relaxed and begin to let go of my previous discomfort, usually when a man like that can’t take his eyes off of you it makes you feel small or insignificant, but I can’t help but feel more secure knowing I have his attention, and for the first time I am clean and put together, my hair is not in tangles and my clothes fit me perfectly.

  I hold my head high and walk towards him in the living room. I click my tongue at Sasha and once more she ignores more, I roll my eyes and stick my tongue out, Levi catches the expression and begins to laugh “I don’t believe we have been properly introduced, I’m Levi.” He reaches out his hand with a smile, I am impressed at his ability to maintain eye contact, I take his hand “I believe you have me at a disadvantage, my name is Ilyana, but I think you already know that.” I say as I look down, unsure of myself, he laughs at my insecurity “Ay, and so much more!” he walks to where the living room and the kitchen meet and pulls out a bottle of I don’t know what, and begins to pour some into a small glass and offers it to me, I take it and smell “It’s brandy” he says and smiles I mutter under my breath something about how I usually expect a drink before the main even and not after and the room suddenly erupts in laughter, this time I can’t help but join in. As rough as this journey has been so far, my lavender bath has left me feeling more revived than I have in some time and I can finally relax and let myself be comfortable for a moment, no matter how brief it may be.

  I take a seat close to Sasha and let the brandy warm my body along with the fire. Ephraim walks over and hands me a bowl full of something that looks like stew and smells delicious, I waste no
time digging in. I am starving and feel like I have been at battle forever, for a moment I let myself hope that it is only temporary and things are about to get better. My breath catches as I look at the fire and realize this is my new life and nothing will ever be quite the same and I may not have many moments of comfort in my future. I look around the room and realize that Levi has left me and Ephraim to ourselves. I look up at him knowing that I will find his eyes looking back. Without any hesitation he begins talking in an understanding, calming tone.

  “I know this has been a rough journey for you, Ilyana. But I want you to know I am here to do all I can to protect and prepare you for all that is to come. You can relax here, Levi is a good man and he has numerous enchantments on his property, no one can find this place that is not meant to, we are safe for now.” I let go of my breath and begin to drink some more brandy after a moment I remember to ask him about Alya, he informs me that she is good and busy at work preparing the Enclave for my arrival. “How long do I have before you have to take me there and train me?” he scratches the back of his head and eases into his seat “There has been a change of plans.” I start to feel slightly anxious again, but know that the brandy is effectively numbing the feeling. I nod for him to continue “It turns out, we really need Levi’s help to train you, we weren’t quite expecting that, but we are going to stay here for as long as we can until the leaders force us to bring you back. We are safer here, apart from everyone, than we are there in the middle of them all.” I wonder for a moment and think back to all he has said “Do you mean WE are safer here or that the other Nephilim are safer with me here?” he looks surprised for a moment “A little of both, actually. But here we can work on your training and you won’t be under as much pressure to perform. You are young and usually there is more time before we bring new Nephilim to the counsel, we prepare and train, and generally they have a good sense of who they are and what they are capable of.” He takes a sip of his brandy and leans towards me and begins speaking in a lower voice “You are different though, Ilyana. We hope that we never find out all that you are capable of, but in case the time arises that we need to, I want you to know how to control your abilities as much as you can. This is the safest place to learn that and as much as it pains me to say it; Levi is the best person to teach you.” I wait for him to pull away but he doesn’t, he slowly starts to lean forward and I know that this is the moment, he is about to kiss me, and I am about to let him when Sasha jumps up past me and runs to the door that Levi just opened and is coming in through, I look at the floor and back to Ephraim, only to see him staring at his brandy as though it has betrayed him and he sets it on the end table closest to him and pushes it away. If I were smart I would do the same, instead I decide to finish mine in a quick swallow and I immediately get up and walk to the bedroom to sleep for the night, I refuse to make eye contact with anyone, the boldness I was feeling earlier has been replaced with disappointment and frustration, I walk past Levi abruptly and lift my hand to wave as I say goodnight without turning back, I click my tongue at Sasha, but she betrays me again, it looks like I will be sleeping alone tonight. The thought irritates me.