Page 92 of Crimson Promises
Ben stared at his feet.
“After today, when you showed me your wings and told me about fighting for the injustice you endured in Heaven, you were going to leave me to navigate all of this and become my own collateral damage. If I hadn’t found that bracelet your the pocket, I would have gone back home thinking we were actually something—that finally there was someone who saw me for me and genuinely wanted to stick around. You didn’t think I was weird but sexy. I ignored all the warning signs and decided to fall. Instead of being there to catch me, you were the one who shoved the blade through my chest." I pinched the bridge of my nose, fatigue washing over me. "None of it was ever real. It was an assignment you had to complete on whatever self-righteous path you’ve set yourself on to right all your world’s wrongs.” I stood up.
“Well, thanks for the information, Ben, but you can leave me alone now. I’m done repeatedly being your responsibility. I can take care of myself. Our arrangement is done. I appreciate you providing the facts, but now I have to pick up the pieces of my life that you and whoever else sent you to watch me completely blew apart. If you follow me, I will scream that you are attacking me as loud as I can.” I spun on my heel and walked away. He didn’t deserve a goodbye.
I walked to the edge of the boardwalk and climbed down the stairs leading to the beach. Once there, I slipped off my shoes and socks and rolled up my pants. The water was more frigid than I expected, and I sloshed through it with a hiss, my toes digging into the sand. The nippy temperature was a welcome distraction. Retrieving my phone, I dialed the one person who always made me feel sane, who always soothed whatever crisis I found myself in. The one constant in my life.
“Hey, sweetheart, I wasn’t expecting to hear from you today after you didn't get back to me earlier. I thought you were working.”
“Hey, Dad, I did. I worked earlier this morning. I was on a roll finishing off some papers. How’s your day going?”
“It’s going well. How are you doing?” I heard a faint trill of unmistakably female laughter in the background.
“Who’s that?”
“Oh, I’m at a work dinner with a colleague. It’s nice to get away from the office sometimes.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. “I’m sorry if I bothered you.”
“Honey, you are never a bother. Call anytime, you know that. You sound a bit rough. Do you want me to head down after work tonight?”
I choked back the tears that were caught in my throat.
“I’m alright, Dad, I promise. I’ve just been juggling a lot between work and school.”And boys. Oh yeah, and the fact that I'm not human or that you aren't my biological dad.
“You know, I’m here if you ever need to talk. Make sure you take care of yourself. Rest is just as important as all of those things. Remember the three most important things?”
I smiled despite the hellfire my reality had turned into. “Eat, sleep, and love.”
“As long as you have those things, anything and everything else is secondary.”
“Stephen, shall we have the veal or chicken marsala?” The female voice intruded on the other end.
“Chicken, please.”
“I’ll let you go. Enjoy your dinner.”
“Aurora, remember that I love you, and I'm here to support you. You should visit Darlene and Vic soon. It’d be good for you to have a home-cooked meal. Let them spoil you.”
So, Vic hasn’t spilled the beans to him about me bringing Ben there for dinner.
“Thanks, Dad. I love you.”
“Keep your chin up, kiddo. Love you, too.”
I hung up and made it to the other end of the cove.Dad goes out with women from work, since when?And why shouldn’t he go out with other women? It’s not like he had the chance to be with my mom, thanks to me.
Spotting two large rocks, I took a seat between them. I wanted to hide from the world, and this seemed like a pretty good spot to do it. I hugged my knees to my chest and used my kneecap as a pillow. Resting my cheek against the bone, I let the tears I had been holding back fall freely, grief, anger, and anguish spilling out of me until I was numb.
* * *
The sky had turned brilliant shades of pink and purple. A familiar voice came from above. “Aurora, it’s time to go. It’s not safe for you to be out here after dark.”
My pulse raced at the sound of his voice. Because, of course, it was him. You’d think for an angel, he would be able to comprehend the obvious meaning ofleave me alone.
I dug my toes further into the sand, further anchoring me in place. I remained exactly where I was.
“I would rather not sound like a parrot, but I will if I have to. I’m not going anywhere with you, Ben. If that means taking a chance with the demons, so be it. At least I know where their motives stand: kidnap me, torture me, and whatever else is a part of the whole evil Knievel shebang.”
