A Touch Mortal

Chapter 20





Gabe stalked past the corrugated metal covering the storefronts, his finger tracing vibrant bubble-lettered graffiti. He gauged the honey sky, the smog already fading to amber. The sun would set soon.

Jamming his hands into his pockets, he slowed his pace. He’d cut out of the apartment early, but even the long walk hadn’t done much to rebound his mood. Az’s snippy little comments had damaged his usual cheer. Sure, Az had reason to be all angst and issues, but the constant drama was getting to be a bit much. He seemed to forget, he wasn’t the only one who missed Eden.

A memory from summer flared. All he’d asked was for her to rub sunscreen on his back. Of course, she feigned innocence when the “missed” spots formed a perfect smiley face. It took him a week to get her back, polka dotting her arm after she fell asleep in the sun.

Gabe sighed, pulling the heavy coat around him. Now everything was a mess. All because of him.

He dropped onto a set of concrete stairs, pulling the hood of the parka over his golden curls. Heat filled every crevice, steaming into the sleeves. A drop of sweat trickled between the last curls near his hairline before it slipped down his neck. But instead of taking the jacket off, he yanked the cords on either side of the hood, drawing the fur lining closer.

He wondered again if he should tell Az about the other guy in Eden’s life. He didn’t know if she’d noticed the way the brown-haired boy looked at her yet. Kristen had said she’d kept Eden away from the others as much as possible, but he’d left with her.

From where Gabe sat, he could make out just enough of the steps of her apartment complex to know if she left. The city was lighting up, even here in the interesting part, before the ghetto really took hold.

He tucked his head down, playing the part of just another loitering degenerate, albeit one with a damn nice coat, and took in a few breaths of frigid air. The hood masked his eyes, but still let him see out. He focused on the steps across the way and down the street, ignoring the cars that fractured his view every few seconds.

Stilettos clicked behind him, someone leaving the building at the top of the steps he’d hunkered down on. He kept his eyes low, staring down the street until a voice spoke.

“You got a cig?”

He peered sideways. The red stilettos were connected to a pair of legs in torn fishnets. “Don’t smoke,” he said, going back to his watch.

“A light then?”

“Why would I have a lighter if I don’t smoke?” he asked, distracted. A figure had turned the corner. On the stairs, Gabe tensed. In the deepening twilight, he couldn’t see the face. Every few feet the figure stopped, head cocked as if listening at every alcove and alley.

One of the shoes kicked lightly at his side. “You cute under that shit? You sound cute.”

Gabe didn’t answer, distractedly slipping the hood off to get a better look down the street. Next to him, he heard the girl take a surprised gasp.

“Damn. Looking for some company, angel?”

Gabe startled, turning to give her a good once-over. She was painfully mortal. It hadn’t been an observation. Only a pet name, probably something she whispered to a dozen guys a night.

“We don’t play for the same team, sweetheart,” he said, keeping an eye on the trench coat making its way closer.

The hooker dug through her purse, probably looking for the misplaced lighter. “Ain’t that just my f*cking luck,” she mumbled. He heard the swish of leather against nylon; the swinging of her purse back onto her shoulder. On the sidewalk, the shadowy figure was almost in front of him. Close enough to see the shoes.

The hooker finally noticed the newcomer. “How ’bout you, gorgeous? You up for some company?” The face turned toward the catcall, enough light catching for Gabe to get an eyeful. Luke’s shoulders pulled up in surprise, long dark curls bunching and falling into place again as he relaxed.

“Gabriel,” Luke tsked, recovering. “And what would the Upstairs say if they knew their golden boy was consorting with a lady of the night? I believe they’d be crestfallen.”

Gabe didn’t miss the emphasis. Luke knew damn well the prostitute was of no interest, slipped in the comment just to be obnoxious. He stood slowly, keeping his face calm.

“Luke.” What Gabe wanted to follow up with was I hadn’t heard you were back into town. It sounded so much cooler, so much more collected; but the lie fizzled, leaving the taste of sulfur on his tongue. He knew better than to voice the untruth, even without the not-so-subtle reminder.

“Where’s the girl, Gabriel?” Luke asked.

Next to Gabe, the woman scoffed angrily. As she clunked down the stairs in her too-high heels she snapped, “If you weren’t interested you coulda just said so,” behind her.

Luke leaned against the railing of the stairs. “The rogue must be close if you’re out here playing watchdog.” His black curls swung as he swiveled to take in the empty street. “Care to share who you’re protecting her from?”

Gabe glared silence.

“You’re not protecting her from me, are you?” Luke’s jaw dropped in a false show of shock. He chuckled softly, his breath darting out in sharp clusters with each chuff. “We could always share her. Half for me, half for you?”

“F*ck you,” Gabe spat, the anger boiling over. It felt good, the heat of it bubbling inside of him. His hands curled into fists, but he pulled them up into the sleeves of the parka. Now isn’t the time, he cautioned himself.

Luke smiled. “Look at you! Using big-boy words.” When he spoke again, his voice had gone hard. “We all know about her existence, Gabriel. Siders can’t be killed, anyway. There’s no reason to be so secretive.”

“I’m just here tonight to watch,” Gabe said.

“Does He know you prefer it down here?” He paused. “You tell me what you know about the Siders, and I can arrange for a permanent vacation from that stuffy Attic.”

Gabe’s face twisted into a sour mask. “It’ll never happen, Luke.”

“All the trips you’ve taken down here to gather information for Them and you expect me to believe you’ve never once had a tryst, told a lie? We both know there has to be something in that past of yours worth a Fall. All you have to do is say it aloud. We’ll play confession.” Luke lowered his voice, moving closer. “Whisper me your wickedness, Gabriel, and pretend all it will cost is a few Our Fathers like the mortals.”

“Never,” Gabe snapped. Nothing would’ve cemented the cocky sneer more permanently onto Luke’s lips than Gabriel falling out of favor Upstairs. Let alone being the cause for it. He hadn’t told the Upstairs about the Siders. It was technically an omission, not enough for a full Fall, but enough to get him wings. Secrets rose up in his throat, bubbled against the back of his closed lips. He focused his attention on the stairs beneath him, the cold. Anything to distract his mind, keep it from latching on to what he hid. The thoughts faded. Az had taught him well.

Eventually, he’d have to confess. He was Bound. But first he had to find a reason why the Upstairs shouldn’t wipe the Siders out. He’d promised Kristen he’d wait until he found it.

“Let’s not rule it out with a ‘never’ just yet,” Luke mused. Gabe felt the hairs on his arms prickle.

Gabe snorted, unzipping the parka. He couldn’t watch for Eden now, not so much look in that direction. Luke wouldn’t miss it.

Instead, he started talking. “You still have the same little fantasy of one of the Bound giving in to a Fallen? That’s precious.”

Luke reached into his pocket for a pack of cigarettes. He cupped a hand to block the wind and lit one, raising a finger to cut Gabe off.

“Don’t try to pull that high-and-mighty shit on me.”

He had to get Luke away. The best option seemed to be to just walk, and hope he would follow. As he stepped down the bottom two stairs, starting a slow saunter, Gabe swallowed hard.

“We’re not here to catch up, Gabriel. The rogue…” Luke started, unsmiling.

“I’m watching her, just like the rest of the Siders. When we figure out their purpose, we’ll decide what needs to be done with her specifically. From what little is out there, the only thing that’s obvious is she’s killing others of her kind.” Gabe turned, his shoulders squaring with authority. “It’s not the Basement’s concern.”

Luke sighed. “The girl is fair game. We both know that.”

Gabe cocked his head. “Why so interested in her?”

“Just because I don’t know how to work a toy, doesn’t mean I don’t want it in my toy box. She’s shiny.” He took a few steps, putting some distance between them. “And I want her.”

Gabe watched him leave. Alone on the sidewalk, he closed his eyes, listening until the footsteps faded. He knew he had to go. Luke could turn around, backtrack. He slid the zipper of the parka back up. Turning down the nearest street, he dared a quick glance over his shoulder. Eden would be on her own tonight.