A Touch Mortal

Chapter 8





One split second passed where she could have reacted, could have reached him in time.

Just enough time to grab his hand. Used up on locking eyes when she should have already been pulling him back. And then it was gone.

“Wait!” Az cried as he went over, and at the same time from behind her Gabe screamed, “Wings!”

She heard Az hit the pavement. Gabe crashed into her from behind, forcing Eden into the railing.

She saw him.

One of his legs bent back in the odd half-cocked angle overused in a thousand movies. His sweatshirt pulled up, like he’d struggled to get it off, to get the wings out in time. She shut her eyes but it was too late, the image burning behind her eyelids.

A keening ripped through her, up her throat as she yanked back, pushing Gabriel off her, dropping.

She thrust out a shaking hand, grabbing the railing above her, ignored Gabe’s panic. “Is he moving? Is he…?” Her voice shook, syllables broken by half-formed sobs.

She twisted away from Gabe, brushing off his hands as she rushed into the room, through the door, spilling down the emergency staircase.

Her sobs echoed through the stairwell, grief moaning back from the walls. Dead. The word leached into her, a chill she couldn’t shake. No. It wasn’t possible.

She heard Gabe shout her name. At the ground floor her legs went out from under her.

He caught up as she collapsed, catching her as they sunk to the floor.

“Tell me angels can’t die. Tell me he’s okay.” She pulled back, desperate. “Gabe?” When he lifted his head, she caught the wet shine of his eyes.

His whole body shook. He looked away. “Don’t make me answer.”

“No,” she whispered. “I have to get to him!”

She pulled herself up by the doorknob.

“Eden.” The tone of Gabriel’s voice stopped her. “You don’t want to see him.” His fingers found hers, trying to lift them from the knob, but she turned it anyway.

“What if he’s not dead?” Even to her the words sounded hollow. “What if he’s hurt?” she asked.

Gabriel pulled the door open, cupping a hand under her chin. “I’ll check for you, Eden. Would that help?”

She nodded numbly. There was no hope in his voice. Deep in her heart something broke loose, draining away everything inside. She walked through the doorway into the lobby in a daze, out the main entrance of the hotel.

It’s all over. The damp night air curled around her like denial, cold and still and empty. She hugged her arms around herself, not caring where she went. Somehow she made it across the road, down the stairs to the beach, knowing Gabe would look for her there.

I bumped his leg, she thought, barely aware of walking. The lights from the boardwalk grew dim. I just left him there.

She dropped to the sand. Every hope. Every dream of their life together, gone. Her life over.

“Eden?” Her heart jumped at her name, but it wasn’t him. Gabe. Only Gabe. He shook his head.

“Are you sure?” She glanced over to Gabe, barely able to make out his face in the darkness.

“You shouldn’t be out here alone, Eden.” Gabe’s voice was soft, careful, as he squatted down next to her. She winced when he touched her hair, running his hand down to her back. He took her hand, pulled her to her feet.

“Why?” she asked. “He was worried the Fallen would kill me.” He nodded in confirmation, and she turned. “I hope they do,” she whispered, too low for him to hear.

“Eden?” Gabe released her hand when she pulled away. For a moment she thought he’d heard, would argue, but then he leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “I am so sorry,” he whispered.

She blinked hard, staring into the open water. She walked into the surf, swaying as the waves broke against her knees. “Leave.”

He hesitated, but only for a moment. She watched, stunned, as he made his way back to the stairs, climbed them without looking back.

The retreating water swirled as it rushed away, pulling at her ankles. Az was really gone. I’m all alone. The thought brought back her tears.

She kept her eyes on where the horizon should have been. There were no stars; it was impossible to find where the water ended and the sky began, only waves retreating into black.

A dark sea of nothingness.