Death In Her Eyes - Erin Bedford Page 0,14

Gotta go. If he ever died that would be carved on his tombstone. Did angels die?

“Not hardly,” Nikki agreed with a snort. “Anyway, I’m glad you’re okay. Let me know what you find out. I’ll try and hold the fort down here.”

“You’re a saint. I might just tell you how you die after this.”

“No, you won’t.” Nikki scowled. “You’re worse than a cock tease I swear. Love you anyway.”

“You too.”

Ending the call, I turned to the bags by the twin sized bed and then to the pack of cigarettes in my hand. I really wanted a smoke but changing out of these clothes were edging on more important at the moment.

I hauled one of the suitcases onto the bed and unzipped it. To my relief right on top were my favorite pair of combat boots. I grabbed those and a pair of cut off shorts. I had to dig through my mom’s suitcase to find my collection of classic rock shirts. I pulled the AC/DC shirt from the pile and made quick work of changing my outfit.

My skin practically tingled from the joy of wearing my usual clothes. I found a mirror half hazardously hung on the wall and checked my makeup.

Good. I hadn’t turned into raccoon eyes between the funeral and my kidnapping.

I shoved my phone in my back pocket and a couple of cigarettes in my front pocket. I’d learned quickly in high school that walking around with a whole pack in your pocket was a sure fire way to lose your whole stash when you’re only going out for a single smoke.

Ready to go, I crept out of my room, my head swinging one way and then the other. I half expected my dad to have set a guard up for me.

I snorted. He trusted me far too much.

Or.

He trusted Azazel to keep me here.

I shuddered. I didn’t like to think of that. Who knew what that woman was capable of?

With no one there to stop me, I walked down the hallway and then the stairs Ayden had taken me up. My eyes kept track of the courtyard as I went searching for a way outside. Finally, after what felt like forever, I found a pair of double doors leading out into the fresh air.

My boots crunched on the gravel walkway as I made my way outside. The green shrubs lined around various statues. Many of them following the school’s theme. Angels fighting other angels. A single angel with a wings that spanned so far out I had a hard time wondering how anyone could move the thing. The whole place was creepy in general. The creepiest were the weeping angels. Their hands over their eyes as if they were waiting for you to turn your backs on them just so they could attack.

I shivered and made sure to keep them in my line of sight. Never could be too careful.

I moved over to the gate. Briefly I wondered if I could climb over it. Then I remembered I wasn’t good at athletic things and gave up on that idea. My hand reached for the bars but they bounced right off. Frowning, I tried again. I couldn’t even touch the bars? What was this a freaking prison?

Letting out a long groan of annoyance, I stomped back to the courtyard. Finding a good place to stand so I could keep watch, I pulled my first cigarette from my pocket. I set it between my lips and reached for my lighter…only to come up empty handed.

“No.” I groaned, pursing my lips around the butt of the cigarette as I frantically searched my pockets. “No. No. I did not fucking forget it.”

I pulled the cigarette from my lips and held my arms out to my sides as I screamed at the heavens. “Why? Why now? Is this all a joke to you?”

“Not particularly.” A rich deep voice answered me.

“Jesus Christ.” I jumped away from the voice and the person behind it, dropping my cigarette on the pathway. Black hair curled at the nape of the guy’s neck. His square jaw went well with the strong nose and bow curved lips. His white tee, dark washed jeans, and black boots already put him in the not so bad category compared to all the preppy kids I’d already seen here in angel school.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.” The smirk on the guy’s lips told me he wasn’t really sorry.

“Yeah, well you did.” I gave the guy a side eye as I