Death In Her Eyes - Erin Bedford Page 0,16
pointed his fork with a piece of chicken on the end at me. “They aren’t perverts or whatever. At least, I hope not.” He gave me a shit eating grin that made me think he was doing way too in his free time.
Ayden scowled at Zephyr. “You’re just gonna freak her out now.” She reached to pat me on the hand, but I withdrew it before she could touch me. She frowned but didn’t comment. “What they mean is they only listen for trouble. I don’t know exactly how it works but it’s not like they are listening in on your every action and thought. Believe me, no one, not even them want that.” She gave the guys a pointed look of disgust.
They laughed as if to punctuate her point.
“Did you get your class schedule yet?” Coral sat down on the opposite side of the long table between the twins. The way she gave each of them a flirty smile made me wonder if she weren’t dating both of them. Or at least fantasizing about it.
I sipped from my glass of tea and nodded before scooping mash potatoes into my mouth. When Coral seemed to want a more extensive explanation, I swallowed thickly and gulped down some more tea. “Yeah, I got it. Though, I’m not sure why I need to take any of these classes. I already graduated high school. I’m supposed to go to college in the fall.”
The others were quiet for a moment. They exchanged a look that I didn’t understand and then Ayden turned to me. “I know it doesn’t seem like it but it’s really a good thing you’re here. I was where you were a year ago. Well,” she smiled softly, “I was starting my senior year and then they came for me. If it wasn’t for Azazel and the rest of the Nephilims I don’t know if I’d be here talking to you today.”
“Came after you?” I frowned hard. “Who? No one’s come after me.”
“The angels.” Bayu the quieter of the twins answered. “They hate us.” He stabbed the meat on his plate with his knife, hatred in his eyes. “They’d kill us without blinking and our family.”
I stared down at my plate not sure how to take all this information. “I’ve never seen an angel aside from Azazel.” And my dad but they didn’t need to know that.
“Count yourself lucky then.” Ayden explained, her eyes flickering to the twins. “Some of us weren’t so lucky to make it here without losing someone to them.”
My stomach twisted at the thought. I had lost someone. My mom. Was she telling me that wasn’t a coincidence? I wasn’t the sharing type but that didn’t mean I couldn’t use other ways to get my answers.
“What about your parents?” I prodded without looking into interested in the answer. “Didn’t they have something to say about you being brought here? The human ones, I mean.”
Coral perked up. “Oh, my mom was totally for it. She sent me to the academy when I was six. I still see her all the time. It’s just safer for me here.”
I glanced around the table wondering the rest of their stories.
“There’s a mixture here. Some of us have happy beginnings like Coral. Others got here because the angels finally found them.” Zephyr explained, tossing an understanding look to his brother.
My fingers caressed the mark on my hand, wondering if they had the same thing happen. “How do they find you? Do we give off some kind of beacon?”
“Not that we know of. Most of us don’t exactly have powers that are easy to hide. When a kid starts fires with his hands word tends to get around.” Joash offered me a lopsided grin.
“How’d you get here?”
My head jerked to Bayu. “What?”
“Didn’t you say you came from a funeral?” Ayden glanced over my clothes. “Before you changed. Which we’ll need to make sure you get a uniform too. Can’t have you tempting the status quo.” She winked at me and giggled.
I offered her a tight smile. “Great.”
“So,” Zephyr prompted, continuing where his brother left off. “What’s your story?” Zephyr seemed far too interested in me. I didn’t do well with boys. Or men. Anyone other than Nikki honestly. Once they found out I didn’t like to be touched they were quick to put me in the weirdo category. I had a feeling that my usual wouldn’t scare this one off.
I busied myself with my food, moving the green beans on my plate from