Page 55 of Rejected Darkness

"It's the power of emotional manipulation. I can convince others to do what I want them to do, and I can control their emotions. I haven't tested the power. I've only used it once here by accident in class before I discovered what it is. Since then, I haven't touched it at all. Not without knowing more about it or practicing it on someone who gives me their permission. I don't want to do anything against someone's will. I read about what happened before Aeris was created. I don't want to live in that sort of world," I explain, hoping he doesn't get scared. I'm not afraid of the power itself. I'm just worried about how it could be used and abused. I won't do that, not ever.

"What bloodline does the power come from? If it's as powerful as you say then it has to come from a powerful bloodline. I've never heard of that power but I had my suspicions when I saw you use it those two times. You didn't know what you were doing and I remember when I asked you to repeat it you couldn't. I'm glad you now know what it is but I agree not using it unless you have permission," he agrees and explains further.

At first, all I can do is stare at him with my jar slightly gapped. I wasn't expecting him to be so calm or rational. This power is terrifying if abused and in the wrong hands. I sure don't think that my hands are the right ones to have this sort of power, but I guess I'm going to have to figure it out. It's not like I have a choice unless there's a way to strip the power from me. I know there is to me, but I just don't know what it is or what it would involve. Would I only lose the power, or would I lose all of my powers?

"Rhys made a comment about the power belonging to Lucifer. The journal never came out right and said it. I was hoping you could contact my great-grandmother and ask her if she had any more information about the journal." It was a long shot when the girls and I came up with the idea. Saying it outloud to Warrick now makes it sound even crazier. I really am shooting in the dark here, but he needs to know everything.

"Divine, Arabella," he whistles, shaking his head. "I have no idea what bloodline you expected but that? Nah, there is no way. Lucifer was stripped of being able to have children and well rumor has it the one he had died in childbirth. Not sure where Rhys was getting the idea about Lucifer. I think he wanted to spook you and get you worried. I believe you that the power comes from a bloodline but it's not Lucifer's."

I can see his conviction and that he believes he's right, but I also know for a fact that Rhys knows a lot more than he lets on. I'm not sure I believe him that it's Lucifer, either. We need proof either way. I can't just stop following a lead because Warrick doesn't believe that. I also know that I've already pushed Warrick too far. He's calm, but he is only going to be able to handle so much.

"We need to talk to Aurora. She would have the answers that I need, or at least know where to start, considering she is the one who gave you that journal for me. Why would she have it?" My mind is spinning with questions and more questions. The after-effects of the drugs in my system are now long forgotten as I try to find answers where none are. A part of me feels relieved that Warrick knows the truth and isn't running away, but the other part of me is freaking out.

"Little one," he calls out sternly as he grasps my thigh tightly, then lets go. "We've gone over enough for today. You need to rest. Bring the girls over. I'm going to head to the pub and see if I can get some answers. I'll also reach out to your great-grandmother and see if she can provide any light. We don't need to solve everything in one conversation. Remember, we need to take little steps before we can jump."

"Ha, ha," I chuckle dryly. "Fine. I'll wallow here in bed and call the girls to bring me clothes while we wait for you to return."

"Good girl," he pats my leg and rises before placing a kiss on my forehead. "One of these days, I'm going to give you an actual kiss when I leave you."

"You could have then, but no, you're a chicken shit. Also, no good girl, it sounds so weird coming from you," I laugh, watching him walk away. I hear him groan in pain as he shakes his head and exits the room.

"Don't forget to shower!" he calls back over his shoulder before leaving me alone.

"Asshole," I mutter before pushing the covers back from the bed and crawling out. Lifting my arm, I smell myself and realize he's right, I do stink to high heaven. Divine, how did he even sleep next to me last night? I smell disgusting. Damnit, I hate it when he's right.

Chapter 32

Arabella

The rest of the weekend passed without incident. Warrick was unable to figure out who spiked my drinks, which only put him in a bad mood when he returned empty-handed. I knew it was a long shot, but I still appreciated that he at least tried to get answers for me. The girls had come by with fresh clothes they stole out of my room when Phoenix let them in. It felt amazing to shower and put on clean clothes. Warrick let me spend Saturday night in his room again, this time not giving me shit about him trying to sleep on the couch. He even had me invite Phoenix over so they could talk. The guys mostly hung out in the kitchen or the spare room, which Warrick turned into a gaming room while we girls took over the living room for a movie marathon. I had no idea he was such a gamer. I was actually surprised. I knew he had hobbies outside of me, but it made me realize just how much things always revolved around me when we were in Aeris. Before we went to sleep that night, I brought it up to him, and he told me it wasn't a bother. My father had strict rules for him, and he was to watch over me. It didn't bother him that when we were together, it was doing things that I wanted. In his words, "At least he got to see me. If we did stuff he wanted, then Iwouldn't have been allowed to go." He's right, of course, but it didn't completely ease the guilt I felt by it either.

Sunday morning, I asked Warrick how things had gone with Phoenix. He said it was strained slightly, but over time, Phoenix began to relax, and they talked. He wouldn't tell me more than that except to emphasize that I needed to talk to Phoenix before things could go further. He's right, I knew he was, but that didn't make it any easier. I promised him that I would speak to him, but it would probably be on Monday. I wanted to continue to enjoy my weekend. I already had one hard talk. I wasn't ready for another. I even begged Warrick to let me stay with him, but he insisted I go back to my dorm. Something about Talia would only give him so many passes, he needed to share me with Phoenix, and this was his way of doing that. A small part of me thought it was utter bullshit, but I knew he was right. I was staying at his place to hide from my next problem. I needed to face Phoenix and talk to him, which is exactly why I went back to my dorm room yesterday night.

When I got there, no one was home. It was the perfect chance to shower and crawl into bed without having to talk to anyone. By the time I made it out of the shower, no one had returned, so I grabbed a snack and crawled into bed, turning on a movie. At some point, I fell asleep. I remember waking up to a knocking noise at the door, but I rolled over and went back to sleep for the rest of the night. When I woke up, I felt like a brand new person ready for the day, which is what brought me to this point now: sitting in the kitchen after making pancakes for everyone and waiting for Phoneix and Rhys to join me. I'd rather Rhys not be here for the conversation, but he's going to find out about it either way. Maybe Phoenix can convince him to bugger off if I'm lucky.

"Good morning, Arabella," Phoenix greets me as he walks into the living room. Looking up from my plate of food, I turnand see him look like he just rolled out of bed. His hair is sticking up in all different directions, and he has those sleep-crusties in the corner of his eyes.

"Morning, Phoenix," I smile and point to the food on the counter. "I made pancakes for breakfast, hope you're hungry."

"Thanks, you didn't need to do that. I could have made us food," he answers, coming to join me in the kitchen. I watch as he places a couple of pancakes on his plate and then smothers them in maple syrup the same way I did a few minutes before.

"I know but you shouldn't have to keep being the one to cook me meals, plus I was awake early this morning and I wanted to do something nice before we talked," I shrug hoping he doesn't try to take anything the wrong way. I'm not exactly trying to butter him up or anything but I guess in some ways I am.

"Yeah, I suppose we should talk. Do you want to do it over breakfast or wait until the end of the day?" he asks, taking the seat beside me at the kitchen counter.

I let him get a couple of bites of food in before answering. "I'd like to start now if that's okay. If you prefer we wait, then I'm good with that too." It sort of feels like both of us are trying to avoid but not avoid the situation. Neither of us wants to make a decision, which makes things awkward between us.

"Oh, for the love of Divine," Rhys grounds out, joining us in the kitchen. "Just talk now and get it over this. This back-and-forth slightly avoiding each other bullshit is getting super annoying." He grabs two pancakes off the plate, stuffing one in his mouth dry before heading to the door. "Don't worry, I'll tell the teachers you both are feeling under the weather so you have all morning to talk. Buh bye!"

Both of us sit there in shocked silence, watching the door slam shut behind him. For a few minutes, neither of us react until I break first and begin to laugh so hard I'm clutching my stomach. Phoenix turns to look at me and joins in on thelaughter until both of us are almost in tears. "I really didn't think he had that in him," I finally blurt out once I gather myself enough to talk.

"Sometimes my brother has a nice side," he adds around laughter. "Well, it's few and far between, but he did create this tension between us anyway."

"You're right. He did. I know he was probably trying to help in his own convoluted way, but I sort of wish he had just let us talk about things and get there when we did," I state, sobering up our conversation. Funny enough, I think Rhys’ exit was the segue that both of us needed to actually open up and talk about things. "I'm not saying that I don't want you to be my mate," I immediately follow up. "I am glad that you are, even if I was scared. It also seemed like you and Warrick were getting along on Saturday, which is important to me."

"Beautiful, haven't you realized yet that I just want to see you happy?" he chuckles lightly and pushes his plate away before turning to face me. "I know it's not conventional for angels to take fallen angel mates. When Rhys had outed us as mates, I panicked. We had shared a great night, and the next morning, I was worried you were going to regret it. Then my brother had to be his usual dickish self and make matters worse. I should have talked to you and told you what I was feeling that morning, but I'm not good at things like that. The only person I talk to is Rhys, and even then, that's become few and far between since you've come into our lives, and not in a bad way," he hurries to add on. Pausing, he grasps both my hands and smiles at me. "You are an amazing person, Arabella. I am lucky to get to call you my mate. I'm sure this is only the first hurdle that we will face, and if you want to sit here now and tell me that you reject me, then fine, I'll accept that as long as you are happy in the end. Fallen Angels, like myself, aren't meant to find our happy endings."

"That's not true," I'm quick to argue, not liking how he views himself. "Everyone deserves to find their happy ending no matter their race. I was mad at first that Rhys took the ceremony away from us. Then I was mad because you wouldn't speak to me that morning or even after he dropped the bombshell. Then you and I tip-toed around each other for a whole week, existing but trying to stay out of each other's way. It was awkward. After I finally wrapped my head around us as mates, I was terrified. My whole dream has been to come here and do what I needed to get back to Aeris. I was left wondering how I was supposed to go home knowing that the Divine mated me to a fallen."

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